The role of Intellectural and Artistic Involvement in Social and Political Issues.

 

The Role of Intellectuals and Artists in Social and Political Issues.

When we live in a time of great social change and dysfunction, there is a moral obligation to express dissatisfaction publicly. We need at times to expose deficient ideas and questionable policy, and take up unpopular positions.

Currently, there seems to me to be far too much political correctness, it is as though ideas may no longer be debated in a rational and impartial way. Any descent from the official or accepted line is considered irrational. Yet, over the centuries thinkers and artists have express contrary viewpoints to the accepted behaviour of their day, and through their efforts achieved some success in creating a better world. Political correctness may of course address certain issues, generally minority ones in various societies, and I have no argument with the need to address such concern, but fair aesthetic and social concepts for certain groups may have adverse effects on the population at large.

 

The concepts of philosophers, artists, and thinkers have over the centuries raised many social, legal, and economic issues in need of reform, however for their insight to have impact it is necessary to tread the middle ground. Socrates encouraged his followers to think problems through, but accepted that the Athenian citizens had to introduce the necessary changes themselves, and not have them imposed from outside. Whether we are discussing Rousseau, Goethe or Russian novelists, the package is the important thing. Thinkers have to engage the public with new ideas, whether it is slavery, both physical or economic for only then may improvement be made. The important point being that their ideas be separate from official government policy, otherwise it will be treated as propaganda.

 

The Russian novelists Tolstoy and Dostoevsky are a good case in point, would their social agenda have had the same impact if it had not been clothed in fictional storytelling. Confining themselves to the use of fiction they were able to maintain their purity and integrity in a powerful way. Tolstoy’s literal writing on social issues did not engage in the same manner as his fiction does. The greater the artistic and scholarly quality of the work the greater its influence and the more likely meaningful solutions will be found. Often with the demise of spiritual belief people are left founding in a vacuum, searching for the meaning of life in a world were the pursuit of material things has swamped our values. Happiness is an internal state of mind.

 

Unfortunately too many visual artists today rely too much on technique to gain attention, rather than develop original content. This is a pity for it contributes nothing as to where the world needs to move from here. There are serious problem aboard in need of solutions. Half the world seems to be searching for a better life, a utopia somewhere else other than were they were born. There is a raise in extreme right-wing political thought throughout the world, which if history teaches us anything generally leads to some form of dictatorship. Somehow we need to find new ways of doing things. Whether people are sufficiently engaged in serious intellectual thought remains to be seen, but one issue is only too plain for everyone to see, far more thought needs to be undertaken before action takes place.

How Lineal is History?

 

How lineal is History.

We all know that the Romans built straight roads under with the belief that this was the quickest way to move from point A to B. This concept seems to have taken root in western thought with the accepted belief in a sort of lineal view of history, if only the world was that straight forward! Over the years many people have suggested to me that they can see no point in studying history, they sincerely believe in a lineal approach were the world continually develops to higher planes. We continually talk about progress, how tomorrow’s ideas will be better, that life continually improves for the better. It is as though Henry Ford’s famous remark, “there is only the present”, a belief in the continual development to a higher level of knowledge. Such ideas have some validity if we only view the world in recent or short time frames, but when the larger, longer picture takes shape, we quickly realise that there is no uphill lineal road to a better and better world. Rather our history suggests that life’s experiences are more like a ball of wool a kitten has chased all over the floor. Given the present dire state of our world at the moment there is no reason for great opportunism. We are living in a world over run by all sorts of prophets, fundamental, national, environmental, economic ones to name just a few, who are determined to ram their ideologies down our throat. In terms of our own lives the only certainties were birth and our future death, everything in between is in the hands of fate.

 Against this background what can the past teach us about the present. Firstly, it is clear history does not operate in any lineal way, it is if anything random. Athenian Democracy’s demise was primarily due to lack of strong ethical leadership, personal self- interest was allowed to take charge. The Roman Republic suffered a similar fate, likewise Augustus’ Empire created with such hope eventually meet with the ingenious sacking of Rome by barbarians, and its eventual demise. Followed by the dark ages when literacy declined over much of Europe. People often forget that such events can and do happen.  We need only recall recent event in Cambodia to realise how easily such things can happen, unless we are able to read the signs.

This is the whole point of history studies, nothing just happens, everything has a cause and effect. Studying the past enables us to identify possible causes and reasons for the ups and down of events, and hopefully allowing us time to plan possible counter measures. The past offers us examples of what has worked and what hasn’t and why. Not that history ever follow the same exact pattern, but humans, being human seem continent to read from a similar script. Peoples concerns are fairly constant, I recall reading many years ago how a young Egyptian mother in the Middle Kingdom, wrote a letter to her absent husband that their teenage son was mixing in bad company, and what should she do.

 Unfortunately humans don’t count long term memory as one of their virtues, sure they can remember their teams’ football results, but ask most citizens to relate the evening news an hour or so, after watching it you would find a large percentage of failures. This is one of the pluses of history study as fortunately most written down in a readable form. We must accept of course that all historical discourse is a particular viewpoint or personal view, but still it offers greater optimism and invaluable insight to events and circumstances at the time. Optimism is necessary to survive , but knowledge of similar past events offers greater advantages. Our current political leaders don’t appear to  offer any great insight, and most don’t seem to have any  understanding of the past, they often give the impression that society continually advances from one high to the next with only minor hiccups. Tell this to current Russian pensioners who no doubt felt after the revolution of 1917 life would improve. They hoped to be looked after in their twilight years, rather than forced to live hand to mouth on a Moscow street.

People are too easily brainwashed into untenable beliefs, history illustrates the continual pitfalls in any faith in lineal development to a better world in human affairs. Our desires and dreams remain the same, but the goal posts are continually moving. Study the past and try to understand when certain events are likely to happen from tell tail signs, only then will you safeguard yourself, your loved ones, and hopefully your country as well. We don’t need another dark age, there is no future in extreme ideologies, the past if it has anything to teach that such ideas only lead to misery and death. We can only counter such a threat by rational logical thought and personal behaviour. Dogma only leads to entrenched positions not solution. Socrates advocated the discipline of thinking about thinking, in order to develop the second-order character of the subject. Reflective thought helps the formation of belief and claims to knowledge about the world. Now is the time to start!

The role of Education in a benifical life.

 

What are the main goals of education.

The never ending stream of graduates from Australian University, particularly from the faculties of Economic and Commerce, should cause any casual observer to ask, what is the most important purpose of education? What is the goal? Unitarianism  seems to be destroying what should be the main focus of our education system, namely helping human kind to see clearly what they ought to be and how they ought to live. It often seems to me that the world is being overrun by all sorts of theorists with little practical experience of the real world.The world in which we live. I know all this sounds very idealistic, but a sound broad view of the world in which we live is vital for the future of humankind. In our increasingly technical civilization, we need an educational system to teach us the right way to live, along with the ability to earn a living. So I am not suggesting that practical skills are not important, but there now seems to be a total focus on what degrees offer the best monetary rewards. Far too many students shy away from science, mathematics engineering,  subjects perceived as not financially rewarding.

 The never ending convey belt of graduates from Universities, many without any life experience, few social graces, and often little training in lateral thinking should alarm us all. After all they are the alleged leaders of tomorrow. Like many people, I view the current global economic meltdown as theory based implemented by young guns with very limited understanding of the possible implications of their actions, that theory will always fit all. It seems that often common sense has deserted many of our decision makers. Personal gain and vested interests have overwhelmed logic. Whether we like it or not the world is finite. Practical ethical thinking seems to have deserted our economic thinkers. Sound business practise should travel hand in hand with social conscious.

 Unfortunately early education, primary and secondary schools are not in much better shape. Most children’s school reports tell a parent next to nothing other than Jonnie is somewhere in the middle and is making progress! There seems to be little time spent teaching children how to add up or spell, let alone their responsibilities to each other and society in general. But they all know their rights, if not their responsibilities. In this country I have experienced shop assistants who seem unable to add two simple numbers together, let alone address more complex problems. Everyone talks about the crises in education in Australia, but little seems to be done. You would think mobile phones, iPod’s and so on would be banned from the classroom until students have demonstrated an ability to solve basic problems. If Australia does not take good stock of itself its future look bleak ,it will not be benefiting from the so called Asian Century, but may find itself among the also ran. I am still waiting for a political party to appear before the coming election to put together a coherent policy , a plan for the country, that has imagination, ethics and sound economic sense. It is possible to embrace them all, but this requires leaders with vision, delectation, and selflessness, not self interest. No doubt I am asking for too much.

Ceramic Sculpture-Heather Creet.

                                          
                                    "Where am I going"  ceramic sculpture by Heather Creet

Over the years, I have always been amazed by the diverse and imaginative solutions my wife Heather Creet has created in her ceramic sculptures. She originally studied sculpture in Rome, and later studio ceramic at the National Art School, Sydney. With the decline of interest in studio ceramic, at least here in Australia, Heather has turned to hand built sculptural works, a discipline in which she has excelled. What I love most about her work is the humor and at times quirky little comments often incorporated into each piece.

Often the starting point may be a social comment on every day events, or the way people relate to each other or their pet dog. Always with  tongue in cheek and risque suggestion. Her patrons love them and are always a ready audience anxious to have their own little bit of imaginative joy.

I have selected a few piece of her work to share with you and if you experience as much pleasure from them as others have in the past, she may , if you ask nicely sell you one.

                                              
                                                 Hare Book Ends by Heather Creet.

                                                    "Treasure Chest" by Heather Creet.

                                                            "Dash" by Heather Creet.

                                                          
                                                 "Lucy at the bus stop" by Heather Creet.

                                                            
                                                      "Early Morning" by Heather Creet.

                                                             
                                                        "Rabbit Girl" by Heather Creet.

                                                 "Looking for Love" by Heather Creet.

                                                             "Eve" by Heather Creet.

Richard Wagner, Father of Modern Music.

Over the years like many artists, I like to paint accompanied by classic music. My favourite composer has been J S Bach, mainly because I find his mathematical structure and discipline soothing, helping me decide what to do next. Anyone who has followed this blog over the years will know my artistic vision moves between different extremes. At one moment controlled and planed, at others free to run where the moment take me in an expressionist manner. Music among all the art forms has a presence that you can not ignore, unlike a painting you do not wish to engage with you may shut you eyes or turn away. This of course is not possible with Wagner, whether you like it or not his music fills the entire space wanted or not.

Years ago in my youth, I became addicted to Japanese Koto and Shakuhachi music, a sound that seems to grow on me. I would start my day with a little meditation, lying on the floor and let the sound of the koto drift over me and carry me away on a spiraling snake of smoke that wove its way ever upwards through forest and mountain imagery. This was very influential at the time as I began to hear music in visual terms, a taint that has remained over the years. Which bring me to Wagner who celebrated his 200th birthday the other day, if it is possible for him to celebrate such an event. Poor Wagner has had a lot to put up with over the years, his association with German National Socialism has not helped. Considering he died in 1883 nearly 35 years before Hitler's rise to power, it has always seemed absurd to me that in some quarters he is tared with such a  brush.  In Australia all German music was banned from being put to air on the radio during World War II, and only a few years ago the Israeli public went into melt down at the mere suggestion that a Wagner composition should be included in a concert, such it would seem is the power of music.

Wagner was interested in the grand picture and set a new course for musical composition. He liked to lead his listeners slowly into the folds and half hidden melodies of his works. A rich tapestry that at times overwhelms our senses as his music takes control of self. There seems to be no boundaries between the music and the world around us. This very quality of course is what was so attractive to later political figures, for it allowed them to move the masses on an unprecedented scale, to meld them to their will. Wagner leads us with large letters into his world that becomes our world as well, melding into one. This is what I like so much about Wagner, the sense of the grand picture the expansive vision.

This afternoon as I listened to The Flying Dutchman, Overture, a work based on his own experience in a stormy voyage on the Baltic in 1839. An experience that he felt would see the end in both his and his wife's death. Anyone who has ever experience a serious storm at sea, and I mean serious will relate to this work, the shrill of the wind in the rigging, the crushing raging strength of the waves against the ship's sides, often followed by a dreaded still moment of silence.

Music is capable of influencing our physical, mental, and emotional state in a direct way, we can not look away. Wagner has this capacity to suggest through musical forms, ideas and characteristic special to him. It has a completeness and purpose all of it's own. His music has not however always been popular, Berlioz, once suggested that Tristen und Isolde was a degenerate work, yet today it stands of one of Wagner's master composition.

What value does a First Edition Book have over copies?

I have often been puzzled by the effort and trouble collectors go to to purchase first edition copies of books.  I'm not talking about some very rare copy of the Magna Carter or such, but old books in general of which there have been many editions, and copies of which are still available in second hand book shops. After all the contents of most books, we would call literature remain the same no matter what edition you may have in your hand. The logical conclusion to such endeavors is the need for prestige by such purchasers.

 Given the ability of technology to reproduce faultless copies of just about anything, we need to question what is it in the human physic that drives people to collect first editions. Personally I have always felt that the value of any book is the content. Likewise a musical score has no value until someone brings the music to life. The false value that society bestows on such items will always remain a mystery to me. This not to say I put no valve on one off objects such as painting, but simply objects that may be reproduced infinitely.

Quoll - native cat and vampire.

                                                             Eastern Tasmanian Quoll.

Over the last few months I have experience the loss of some two dozen bantam chickens, all killed during the night or at dawn or dusk. It became rather distressing to walk down to the poultry yard each morning to see what damage had been inflicted throughout the night. At first, I thought it must be a falcon or white sea eagle taking the poultry. Sea eagles are very cleaver, they fly with flocks of white cockatoos, so they will not be noticed while looking for their next meal. But nether predator seemed quite right, as they left the body behind, taking only the head on a half chewed neck. In  the end I decided to hang a dead chicken inside a possum trap. The first two nights there was nothing, then one night surprise, surprise there was a quoll in the cage.

Quolls are a nocturnal native cat that inhabit the Tasmanian east coast, being night animals are rarely seen by humans unless you are an insomniac.There are two types, one is called a tiger cat and is very ferocious, another is smaller, olive gray in colour with white spots on the body. Very pretty,to behold or you may say beautiful to look at, there are people who try to make pets of them. Like most felines they are night owls and very dangerous. They have been known to clime trees above roosting fowl and then fall on their prey grabbing the unfortunate bird by the neck and falling to the ground with the now dead fowl. The love poultry blood, hence why I call them the vampires of the bird world. The bite across the back of the neck to extract the victim's blood. Never satisfied, they will return time and time again to a new found source of food, until all the birds have been killed. This has nothing to do with hunger pains, but just for the fun of the kill. This smaller quoll is about 45cms long with 30cm tail. I have attempted to draw the one I capture before letting the animal go as they are a protected species and must be allowed to run free. This will not of course help my attempt to keep poultry, but such is life.