Thanks. I'll take a look On 1/7/10, CeJ <jann...@gmail.com> wrote: > I'd say Ayn Rand is the person most responsible for both > 'libertarianism' and the 'self-esteem movement' as we know them today, > even if she is identified philosophically with the term 'objectivism' > (her use of that term, that is). Also, for better or worse she helped > popularize 'philosophy' as a topic of non-academics. As I said before, > I find her more interesting as a novelist. However, I think her > approach to a theory of art is different than what you might get in an > academic course on the topic, and not gag-inducing. Don't you think > her insights about 'romantic realism' would explain the popularity of > 'Avatar' more than some of those efforts we see over on Marxmail? > > For a taste, you might try (instead of a primary source): > > > > http://www.liberalia.com/htm/cm_rand_aesthetics3.htm > > However, it is this simplicity in her philosophy of aesthetics that > gives it an immediate appeal; it is not erudite and specialised > because it refers to our common experience. > > > > What is truly novel in Rand’s approach, however, is the emphasis she > places on an artist’s sense of life. Art is universal in the sense > that every human society produces some sort of artistic works. Yet a > single work of art is not universally admired, because each one of us > has a different sense of life; what I like is not what you like. But > when you and I enjoy the same art, it transcends history, culture, > religious beliefs, social environments, and the artist's explicit > philosophy. This is what I have tried to illustrate with paintings and > sculptures that we can all enjoy, and yet which were created by > official artists of the two most despicable political regimes of all > time. > > > > Rand herself ranks Victor Hugo as her favourite novelist, yet Victor > Hugo was “irrational” by Randian atheistic and rationalist criteria; > Hugo was a believer in God, a believer in the occult, he “channelled” > messages from the dead, and, worst of all, he was a social democrat. > > > > Likewise Rand mentions Edmond Rostand’s Chantecler as her favourite > play. This drama is not in a league with Euripides’s and > Shakespeare’s, it is not even a great work of art, but still, as Rand > does, I like it. I enjoy Rostand’s sense of life, and I am more moved > by Cyrano de Bergerac, L’Aiglon or Chantecler, than by other greater > masterpieces, but in which I do not find the values which are mine. > Only snobs praise art that does not move them. > > > > As the etymology reveals, an author (auctor) is one who “makes > something larger”, who magnifies, who ennobles.. Hugo and Rostand both > dare to be great. They portray characters who are larger than life. > They create heroes. > > > > Let’s look for the artists that bring out the hero that is inside each > one of us. > > _______________________________________________ > Marxism-Thaxis mailing list > Marxism-Thaxis@lists.econ.utah.edu > To change your options or unsubscribe go to: > http://lists.econ.utah.edu/mailman/listinfo/marxism-thaxis >
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