Art points to something beyond itself, toward that “something more” we sense in things and can only reveal through our pen or brushes, in our music or dance.
It’s very uplifting to read this beautiful reminder of the essential mystery at the center of life, Deborah. The rational left brain is sometimes uncomfortable with that uncertainty. I’m glad you’ve pointed to art’s role in celebrating it.
I’m not surprised you’ve included Jung and Joseph Campbell among the wise humans quoted in this piece. Both have pointed the way to wholeness and truth. Both have been important to me personally. I have a feeling they’ve also influenced your journey as well. Thanks for sharing these lovely thoughts with us today.
Thank you so much, Andrew. It's true Jung and Campbell have been important to me on my journey, as well as Einstein and other theoretical scientists who reaffirm that there's more to life as we know it than what we can as humans perceive physically, but intuit through art and myth and matters that touch the heart and spirit of who we are.
“Art has the power to transform, to illuminate, to educate, inspire, and motivate.”
I will also add that art can be revolutionary and deemed dangerous to governments. Picasso's 'Guernica' is a good example, as is Goya's 'The Third of May 1808,' and with music, Fela Kuti used his music to criticize his corrupt government (Nigeria), and they damn near killed him for it (the government police and military terrorized, raped, assaulted, beat, and imprisoned Fela, his wives, his mother, his bandmates, and ultimately burned down the band's compound).
But as Duke Ellington once said...
“Art is dangerous. It is one of the attractions: when it ceases to be dangerous, you don't want it.”
Art in all its forms and our wonderful ability to be creatively curious is what sets humans apart from the rest of the animal kingdom. It has taught us everything we know about ancient societies and civilizations, and it has also left us with many questions. It allows us to internalize our thoughts and emotions; it helps us make sense of our world; it questions the world; it helps us not feel alone; it frustrates us; it teaches us to see & feel; and it ultimately unites us all.
You are so right about that, Michael. Art can be dangerous and should be when we need that axe to break the ice of callous indifference within. Funny you should mention the Third of May painting. The novel I'm working on now about a revolution during the 70's in Central America features that painting. The main character, a young American journalist who gets caught up in the revolution, is writing a piece on protest art, inspired by the posters plastered all over the city of the magnetic rebel who is uniting the populous against the corrupt dictator, reminding her of the iconic image of Che who so inspired revolutionaries in his time. Art is powerful, however it inspires us or wakes us up. I'm glad you pointed this out.
I'm excited about your novel, Deborah, and I look forward to hearing more about it or reading it when it is finished!
Last April, my wife and I were in New York City, and we saw a stunning Flamenco performance inspired by the works of Goya ('Searching for Goya'). The curtain was raised to dancers mimicking the pose of the sleeping man, owls, and bats from Goya's piece 'The Sleep of Reason Produces Monsters.' It culminated in a powerful finale featuring choreography inspired by 'The Third of May.' The entire production was absolutely breathtaking and a wonderful example of how the choreographer and principal dancer drew deep inspiration from another artist's work to craft their own incredible artistic expression.
It’s very uplifting to read this beautiful reminder of the essential mystery at the center of life, Deborah. The rational left brain is sometimes uncomfortable with that uncertainty. I’m glad you’ve pointed to art’s role in celebrating it.
I’m not surprised you’ve included Jung and Joseph Campbell among the wise humans quoted in this piece. Both have pointed the way to wholeness and truth. Both have been important to me personally. I have a feeling they’ve also influenced your journey as well. Thanks for sharing these lovely thoughts with us today.
Thank you so much, Andrew. It's true Jung and Campbell have been important to me on my journey, as well as Einstein and other theoretical scientists who reaffirm that there's more to life as we know it than what we can as humans perceive physically, but intuit through art and myth and matters that touch the heart and spirit of who we are.
Lovely thoughts, Deborah.
As actor & playwright Harvey Fierstein said...
“Art has the power to transform, to illuminate, to educate, inspire, and motivate.”
I will also add that art can be revolutionary and deemed dangerous to governments. Picasso's 'Guernica' is a good example, as is Goya's 'The Third of May 1808,' and with music, Fela Kuti used his music to criticize his corrupt government (Nigeria), and they damn near killed him for it (the government police and military terrorized, raped, assaulted, beat, and imprisoned Fela, his wives, his mother, his bandmates, and ultimately burned down the band's compound).
But as Duke Ellington once said...
“Art is dangerous. It is one of the attractions: when it ceases to be dangerous, you don't want it.”
Art in all its forms and our wonderful ability to be creatively curious is what sets humans apart from the rest of the animal kingdom. It has taught us everything we know about ancient societies and civilizations, and it has also left us with many questions. It allows us to internalize our thoughts and emotions; it helps us make sense of our world; it questions the world; it helps us not feel alone; it frustrates us; it teaches us to see & feel; and it ultimately unites us all.
Art makes us human.
You are so right about that, Michael. Art can be dangerous and should be when we need that axe to break the ice of callous indifference within. Funny you should mention the Third of May painting. The novel I'm working on now about a revolution during the 70's in Central America features that painting. The main character, a young American journalist who gets caught up in the revolution, is writing a piece on protest art, inspired by the posters plastered all over the city of the magnetic rebel who is uniting the populous against the corrupt dictator, reminding her of the iconic image of Che who so inspired revolutionaries in his time. Art is powerful, however it inspires us or wakes us up. I'm glad you pointed this out.
I'm excited about your novel, Deborah, and I look forward to hearing more about it or reading it when it is finished!
Last April, my wife and I were in New York City, and we saw a stunning Flamenco performance inspired by the works of Goya ('Searching for Goya'). The curtain was raised to dancers mimicking the pose of the sleeping man, owls, and bats from Goya's piece 'The Sleep of Reason Produces Monsters.' It culminated in a powerful finale featuring choreography inspired by 'The Third of May.' The entire production was absolutely breathtaking and a wonderful example of how the choreographer and principal dancer drew deep inspiration from another artist's work to craft their own incredible artistic expression.