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[Thread] Art, Dionysus and the myth of egalitarianism:
There are ‘certain people’ who appear so insecure in their taste in art that they have begun to lash out at anyone who raises even a fair criticism of the style. Holding a notably pretentious and snobbish stance, even...
There are ‘certain people’ who appear so insecure in their taste in art that they have begun to lash out at anyone who raises even a fair criticism of the style. Holding a notably pretentious and snobbish stance, even...
... going so far as to call anyone who disagrees with them ‘uneducated plebeians’, these individuals appear to lack the basic understanding of what art means to a society.
Their psuedo-elitism wouldn’t be so problematic if they didn’t use it as the platform to launch a crusade..
Their psuedo-elitism wouldn’t be so problematic if they didn’t use it as the platform to launch a crusade..
... One that aims to ‘encourage the ‘right’ to embrace modern art because modern art is ‘anti-egalitarian’.
Now, such a statement is misplaced (as we shall come to), but more-over it is a dangerous notion. The idea that something so flawed should be mixed into the political...
Now, such a statement is misplaced (as we shall come to), but more-over it is a dangerous notion. The idea that something so flawed should be mixed into the political...
... domain has the potential for extremely damaging repercussions.
First, it is worth analysing whether or not the political fight between the left and the right (assuming a left-right spectrum is used, something that I would avoid were it up to me) is a fight between...
First, it is worth analysing whether or not the political fight between the left and the right (assuming a left-right spectrum is used, something that I would avoid were it up to me) is a fight between...
... the egalitarian left and the anti-egalitarian right.
It isn’t.
Anybody with a basic understanding of the nature of politics - a power struggle - can see that the left do not stand for egalitarianism. The left are, as Spandrell puts is, a collection of the weakest in...
It isn’t.
Anybody with a basic understanding of the nature of politics - a power struggle - can see that the left do not stand for egalitarianism. The left are, as Spandrell puts is, a collection of the weakest in...
... society, given false promises of a change in the natural order. Whilst egalitarianism may be the first false promise, it never stays that way (assuming the false promises even come to be, which they usually don’t given the nature of the ‘Lenin like’ figure).
Egalitarianism..
Egalitarianism..
... is neither realistic nor desirable (even for the left). The only place egalitarianism can be seen is when presented as a stance in a public forum, due to its much more passive nature. This is just a front.
We are not biologically programmed to desire egalitarianism. It is...
We are not biologically programmed to desire egalitarianism. It is...
... natural for us to default to hierarchy (as pack animals) as this is how we have survived and evolved for thousands of years. The left is concerned with changing the order of the hierarchy, not with replacing it.
This isn’t even particularly well hidden. Marx made no...
This isn’t even particularly well hidden. Marx made no...
... attempt to cover-up the fact that he wanted bloody revolution (as opposed to the peaceful harmony of an egalitarian utopia). Outside of the obvious political writings, we can see hierarchy present in the Labour Theory of Value. The very notion that value is determined by...
... labour and that this is being exploited in itself has hierarchical implications.
In many ways, LTV reminds me of the stance being critiqued. Both LTV and the stance being critiqued fall into the trap of assuming that value comes from the input of the worker/artist (and...
In many ways, LTV reminds me of the stance being critiqued. Both LTV and the stance being critiqued fall into the trap of assuming that value comes from the input of the worker/artist (and...
... that this value is only recognised by the few enlightened). The reality is that these stances are incorrect. Value - both in art and in economics - is determined by utility.
So, what is the utility in art?
I’ve already addressed this in my video on Greek Tragedy, but I...
So, what is the utility in art?
I’ve already addressed this in my video on Greek Tragedy, but I...
... shall attempt to briefly summarise it here.
Art is an expression of the celebration of human cooperation, achievement and survival. As such, to discard the great unwashed for not understanding the elite pinnacle of art is an expression of art failing.
We live in a world...
Art is an expression of the celebration of human cooperation, achievement and survival. As such, to discard the great unwashed for not understanding the elite pinnacle of art is an expression of art failing.
We live in a world...
... without any clear purpose or direction. As such, the very first choice presented to man is life or death. Do you accept the nihilistic nature of reality and go down the anti-natalist route, or do you pick yourself up and survive (not an easy task), before coming together to..
... celebrate such an accomplishment?
“Under the charm of the Dionysian not only is the covenant between man and man again established, but also estranged, hostile or subjugated nature again celebrates her reconciliation with her lost son, man. Of her own accord earth proffers..
“Under the charm of the Dionysian not only is the covenant between man and man again established, but also estranged, hostile or subjugated nature again celebrates her reconciliation with her lost son, man. Of her own accord earth proffers..
...her gifts, and peacefully the beasts of prey approach from the desert and the rocks.” - F. Nietzsche, The Birth of Tragedy.
It would be a mistake to think of art as anything other than the collective celebration of survival and prosperity. Anything beyond this is no longer...
It would be a mistake to think of art as anything other than the collective celebration of survival and prosperity. Anything beyond this is no longer...
... art.
Of greater significance, it would be a mistake to think of the political battle with the left as one of egalitarianism. The left use egalitarianism as a mask. The right, rather than being defined as staunchly pro-hierarchy, merely take hierarchy for granted.
...
Of greater significance, it would be a mistake to think of the political battle with the left as one of egalitarianism. The left use egalitarianism as a mask. The right, rather than being defined as staunchly pro-hierarchy, merely take hierarchy for granted.
...
... Anyone who thinks that hierarchy = right wing and as such anything that has hierarchy must be embraced by the right is proposing an extremely dangerous notion. This is not the defining factor of the quote-on-quote ‘right’. This sort of thinking should be shut down. [End]
