02.22.09
Irrationally Yours
The few precious reading minutes of this erratic week was spent with William Barrett’s Irrational Man, and even though I have only succeeded in reading two of the four parts of this book, I have already gained so much, especially in the correction of many of my misconceptions pertaining Existentialism, Western Philosophy, art, literature, and music. Hopefully, I will have time to expound on these after I accomplish the entire book.
Just as I was curbing myself from quoting too many book passages, I’m afraid I shall have to repeat this folly, but for a good reason. While it may be very presumptuous to settle on premature conclusions while I am still in the early stages of the book, I am driven to say that this book’s first half has already aided me in understanding – perhaps not entirely (due to my slow mind) but just a little bit more – the true artist of our time.
Coincidentally, I recently received a reply that confirmed one artist’s true artistry: “I did not answer your query as to why my music sounds ‘so advanced and yet so primitive’ because I have no answers; it’s difficult to answer your question actually… but I just compose what my heart tells me.”
“…the testimony of the artist, the poet, is all the more valid when it is not contaminated by any intellectual preconceptions,” resounds William Barrett.
Had this aforementioned artist theorized about his art blatantly instead of stating those lines in his reply; I, ignorant of his works, frankly would have doubted his art’s genuineness. But I would not have been keen about these things if not for the following passages from Irrational Man shedding light on the same question of why art so advanced could seem so primitive at the same time.
The labor of modern culture (the “advanced” aspect?), wherever it has been authentic, has been a labor of denudation. (No Freudian undertones there. =P) A return to the sources (the “primitive”?); “to the things themselves,” as Husserl puts it; toward a new truthfulness, the casting away of ready-made presuppositions and empty forms – these are some of the slogans under which this phase in history has presented itself. Naturally enough, much of this stripping down must appear as the work of destruction, as revolutionary or even “negative”: a being who has become thoroughly questionable to himself must also find questionable his relation to the total past which in a sense he represents.
Note to the artist/composer: Since these passages reflect fragments of the “irrational man”, perhaps they who dubbed you “impractical” must have meant “irrational” and unconsciously attested that you are indeed a true artist of our time.
Note to the giver of the book: I’m learning so much. Thank you.
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jonathan hawk follows closely said,
February 22, 2009 at 5:11 am
It is good that you are immersed and enjoying, at whatever pace your mind digest this work.
As for primative and advanced, one person’s primative is ‘grounded in earthway, natural acquired undoctored knowledge’ while to another primative merely means ‘lacking in sophistication’.
I see your appreciation showing so I’m leaning towards the former for you.
Miracle ♪♫ said,
February 22, 2009 at 6:57 am
Yes, Jonathan…and also “primitive” as not exactly lacking sophistication but being stripped down to man’s elements, down to it’s irreducible roots.
Thank you for the comment. =)
rian said,
February 22, 2009 at 11:31 am
“.. especially in the correction of many of my misconceptions pertaining Existentialism, ..”
This line caught my attention.
It is difficult to grasp the existentialist way of thinking jud because it deals with emotions and feelings that is construed by some to be an anti-thesis to reason and thought, and thus is irrational. But it isn’t.
As John Macquarrie said “The feelings are not seen as antithetical to reason and thought but as a source of insights that can be disengaged and communicated through philosophical reflection. Moreover, these insights may be among the most profound and intimate available to us”
I wish I have your time meewa. daghan na kau books naka queue sa kwarto. hehe. good morning!
Miracle ♪♫ said,
February 22, 2009 at 12:54 pm
G’day, Rai! This book is very thorough in explaining Existentialism from its roots to its foliage.hehe Of course, I’m still struggling a bit with the philosophies I’m not familiar with…but the writings are really quite comprehensive. Unta silingan ra ta para maka borrow ka ani. There’s a season for everything, Rai… you’ll be given the reading time you need one of these days. =)
mika said,
February 22, 2009 at 3:41 pm
“…the testimony of the artist, the poet, is all the more valid when it is not contaminated by any intellectual preconceptions,”
i agree! that’s why i’m not really into politicizing art, or reducing art into ideologies. art is more than politics or ideologies or philosophies, and the greatness of a work of art will not ultimately depend on its political relevance. :)
ripieno said,
February 22, 2009 at 3:59 pm
. .. … …. ….. …… ……. ….. … . .. …. ,
lemo the worm said,
February 22, 2009 at 7:14 pm
“…the testimony of the artist, the poet, is all the more valid when it is not contaminated by any intellectual preconceptions,”
It sounds like Tolstoy’s preliminary on art however this seeming understanding of art may stir a serious debate whether art is conceptualized or just a natural potential of man. Art usually requires intelligence as mathematics requires numbers, thus I can only find its validity if elucidated through reason (just as how can you seek the difference between an original art from a fabricated one?).
Art, I guess, will be more valid if it is deducted with reason. It’s not philosophizing but understanding it profoundly….and I guess an artist can never really forgo of preconceptions “but” it does not necessarily make him any less than great ones. Remember that existentialism is not merely putting man as a center of everything but also understanding the conditions of man and the systems that account and form him… and art is one.
I really ought to let you have my Susan Langer notes, but promise to keep it safe.hehehe
Miracle ♪♫ said,
February 22, 2009 at 7:18 pm
Another line from the book: “…sometimes the image is present even when it was never articulated in thought, the artist in this way anticipating the philosopher.” So perhaps it also goes to say that when the art is genuine, it will naturally be relevant to our lives and times without even having to force itself to be so. While ideologies or philosophies may go together with art at times, some artists stress too much on, or prioritize, the political relevance that true art is forgotten in the process. Thanks for sharing your thoughts, Mika. =)
How abstract… hehe
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Hi Wormie. hehe =)
First of all, the art that Barrett is discussing is Modern art - the art of our time. I cannot say that I am a fan of Modern art due also to the difficult task of differentiating the true artist from the pseudo-artist (as opposed to classical art where technique and skill is already proof enough, especially in visual art). If we rely on reason for validity, I have also been witness to some men who reason out their “art” fluently and yet lack the skill and sincerity of a real artist. I suppose then that since we might err on our judgments of who is “fake”, our focus should not be on determining which is untrue, but to acknowledge a true artist when we encounter one and most of all, ponder on our own art.
If you lend me your book, you know I’ll keep it safe. =D
Thanks for coming by!
sopraninigabi said,
February 27, 2009 at 6:28 am
Got my copy of this book for only P100 yesterday, can’t wait to devour it after my necessary readings. Alas, I only have the odd hour to spare Sundays for general reading. :(
Miracle ♪♫ said,
February 27, 2009 at 4:15 pm
Irrational Man discloses so much to those who are not philosophy students and I’m overeager in absorbing everything even though I know I really can’t all at once…it may take years for me to digest all of it.haha I don’t think it’s the kind of book one would/can rush through, so don’t you worry about not having much time to read…and just like I reminded Rian up there, there really is a time for everything! Summer’s just around the corner, too! ;-)
I miss you, Gabi!