E. M. Forster: "Works of art, in my opinion, are the only objects in the material universe to possess internal order, and that is why, though I don't believe that only art matters, I do believe in Art for Art's sake."
Aren’t They All Special?
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Although I’ll have to admit that I was obsessed with getting good shots of
the Gambel’s Quail and the Curve-billed Thrashers, I certainly didn’t
ignore all...
1 day ago
I've run across this quote before. It has some definite merit. But I find problems with it. When art strays entirely too far from truth -- that is, reality as an experienced adult tends to have seen it -- it insults one's intelligence. As grim as this may seem, I tend to rate something like Camus' The Stranger as art superior to Baum's The Wizard of Oz, although certainly both have their places. I just wasn't surprised when I was assigned to read Camus in college, rather than Baum. Art can be a delightful escape, but it seems like the best stuff ultimately tries to "counter," rather than slip, the punches of reality.
ReplyDeleteI suppose one could note that there's such things as High Art and Low Art, but most art is somewhere in between most of the time. I'm sure it's a matter of personal perspective and preference, so I wouldn't want to decide which is which for others or for any other to decide it for me. I hate censors because I don't want to love or hate anything unless I have some acquaintance with it!
ReplyDeleteBTW: The Fifties, by David Halberstam -- excellent memoir. Read it a few years ago.
ReplyDeleteYes, I agree. I was bummed out when he died in a car wreck a few months ago. People die, but he seemed like an intelligent, reflective, and analytical writer, just the kind I like.
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