> As a human being, Wagner was a disgusting man. But what an artist. There lies the main issue. It seems to me that various points follow on from this.
1. It is possible to be a great artist and at the same time to be a complete shit. It is even surprisingly common! 2. It is a valid field of study to determine in what way and to what extent Wagner's personal/political views influenced his art. It is also valid to study what effect his art had on subsequent politics. Art does affect other aspects of life. 3. It is necessary (in my view) to consider Wagner's views and behaviour in the context of his time. It is generally a mistake to condemn people for acting in a way that was within the range of normal behaviour of their time when standards have changed since then. (I have not myself made sufficient study of Wagner's life to express an opinion on whether his behaviour and views were repulsive by the standards of his day.) 4. Even the most repulsive people can enjoy great art, and it is not of itself a condemnation of Wagner that his music was used for evil purposes, though it can affect the way it is perceived by future generations. 5. Because of all of this, it is a matter of personal opinion as to what extent Wagner's anti-semitism undermines the value of his art, and people can genuinely and honestly disagree on this point. There are those who refuse any association with Wagner's music because of his views and because of the uses to which his music was put. Some people treat the art in isolation and enjoy it for its own sake. Others enjoy and appreciate the art, but nonetheless feel some degree of discomfort in their knowledge of the views of the composer and the purposes the music has been used for. All these are reasonable responses, and I would like to point out to everyone on the list that simply because somebody else has a different view, it doesn't of itself mean that they are wrong. It simply means that they are bringing a different set of experiences to the issue, and that those experiences are causing them to apply their values to the issue in a different way. This is a discussion that will run for as long as Wagner's music remains known. Jonathan West _______________________________________________ post: [EMAIL PROTECTED] unsubscribe or set options at http://music.memphis.edu/mailman/options/horn/archive%40jab.org
