Brian Molanphy on tue 30 dec 03
janet, vince, et al.,
janet, you wrote in part:=20
'The idea that anything we do as artists and makers should be some
sort of noble enactment of creating and producing an item with a
deep inner meaning is quite ludicrous IMO... This has not been a
part of our Western philosophy, culture or society since the days
of the Reformation and the Enlightenment. We have chosen the
materialistic, iconoclastic, commercialised and mechanised route
to producing our cultural heritage.'
would you specify for us, refering to the idea and route just =
mentioned...
was this part of western culture before the reformation or at any other
time? if so at certain times and not at others, or even if it is never
part of our history, what idea would take its place?
what was the alternative to the route we have chosen, if in fact we have
ever been on a different route?
brian
Janet Kaiser on fri 2 jan 04
Dear Brian,
I chose those two significant "movements" not at random, but to
save time and being side-tracked yet again! But to expand on that
in answer to your specific questions... I personally believe that
the course of cultural, economic and socio-political development
and our resulting western attitude -- which naturally embraces
the Arts -- was actually decided at one specific place, at one
moment in time.
This historic "date with destiny"? No, not Agincourt! It was the
Battle of Kahlenberg (Vienna, Austria) in 1683. Had a European
alliance not rebuffed this final attempt at westward expansion of
the Ottoman Empire and subsequently become an integral part of
it, there would be a completely different attitude towards every
aspect of life, including the production and marketing of pots!
Up to that point in time, both a united "Christendom" in the west
and "the Turks" were waging what they believed to be a holy war
and dj=EEhad respectively -- yes, each was fighting against
"infidels". This was a religious, faith-based war and it has been
argued, that from that point in history onward, this occident
versus orient, Christian versus Muslim became a secularised and
purely commercial conflict over lands and their wealth (Hummm...
our lords and masters are treading familiar ground and using old
excuses masquerading as "belief" for sure!).
In addition, the philosophical, socio-economic and geo-political
fallout embodied in the Reformation, paved the way to the Age of
Enlightenment. It saw our collective path set towards the
ascendancy of the work ethic, profit, production and eventually
the Industrial Revolution with its mechanisation of methods,
urbanisation of the population, etc. etc. at the cost of the
divine... No more debating how many angels could dance on the
head of a pin, but instead the shift towards science and
humanistic belief... The alchemist searching for the
philosopher's stone which would turn base metal into gold,
gradually evolved into the imperical scientist, whether chemist
or physicist, pure mathematics was rediscovered, astronomy
replaced astrology and medicine became a science rather than an
art akin to sorcery --- All happened as we cast off our faith in
the divine, plus the hold the church had exercised for centuries.
Do not forget he was jolly lucky he was not burned at the stake
and it was only last year or the year before(?) that Galileo
Galilee was finally pardoned of his "heresies" by the Holy Roman
See. His contribution to disproving the faith-based geo-centric
beliefs of the church, was perhaps the very moment that "science"
took the ascendancy over "faith"? Quite something when you think
that a great deal of our "knowledge" was purely faith-based
right-up to recent times... For example, the age of the earth was
still believed to be around 4.000 right up until and for some
time after Charles Darwin published Origin of the Species in
1859.
At the same time, it appears that we dropped the existing belief
in the divine hand at work in all that we do. Which artist would
seriously claim to only be a tool in the hands of God these days?
And if they did, would they be nominated for the Turner Prize? I
doubt it very much. Creativity is now considered a personal
possession and attribute. Quite a fundamental difference.
Did not most of the great artists and artisans of the
Renaissance, really believe they were nothing more than a conduit
enacting the will of a higher being? When did that change? I do
believe it was gradual, but maybe the said two "movements" are as
good a way as any of dating this shift and my original comment...
The demise of the Roman Catholic church as a state in its own
right and the break up of the Holy Roman Empire did indeed take
away significant patronage of the arts. That was naturally just
an economic effect, however the work of artists and craftsmen had
been used to not only to signify the wealth of individuals and
their power, but was also used as "proof" that they were truly
God's annointed and infallible. Not only the church, but Kings
claimed the same... Yes, "In God we Trust" has a long precedence!
So in answer to your question, I find it very difficult to say
whether we were indeed ever on a different route or not. It has
been a great conundrum to me over the years... ever since I
learned what civilising laws, government and ethics were in fact
turned back at Vienna... Of course I grew up in a culture which
said that the Infidel, barbaric and uncivilised hoards had been
defeated. A simplistic goodies beating the baddies when viewed
from the winning side... In many respects, nothing could have
been further from the truth, but then we think of propaganda as a
modern phenomena. How naive we are!
It is quite possible that the rich cultural and artistic
influences of Islam which nevertheless took place, would have
been much more profound. Even very small influences which have
changed our culture... Don`t forget it was a few sacks of coffee
which the defeated Ottoman army left behind in Vienna, which lead
to the first Viennese coffee house opening. And look what social
change that brought about in the capital cities of Europe...
I admit it is pretty difficult to guess what exactly would have
happened. I expect symbolism and decorative style, especially
repeated patterns may have taken a far more important place in
the visual arts. Fundamental differences due to the belief system
being the driving force of the adopted lifestyle of the
citizenry. For example in dress, ornamentation, even health and
hygiene would have improved through the earlier introduction of
tiles, bathing practices, etc. But what would probably never have
happened, even had European development been subsequently much
more semitic in character, would have been the development of the
Arts in any way similar to certain Far Eastern philosophies.
Countless years of study before sitting down and looking at a
solitary pot / scroll / piece of wood and meditating before
adding a single judicious mark with deeply spiritual and
philosophical significance and the teaching of this esoteric
approach to "making art" as the embodiment of some inner purity
(similar to the divine hand of the west) being passed on to
willing accolytes (I exaggerate/simplify) would probably still
not have developed as normal or mainstream practice. Let alone
entering in the collective psyche of a whole culture.
Or would it? I do not think anyone is in a position to judge.
Least of all yours truly.
Even if it really mattered one way or the other...
Sincerely
Janet Kaiser
*** IN REPLY TO THE FOLLOWING MAIL:
>'The idea that anything we do as artists and makers should be
some
>sort of noble enactment of creating and producing an item with a
>deep inner meaning is quite ludicrous IMO... This has not been a
>part of our Western philosophy, culture or society since the
days
>of the Reformation and the Enlightenment. We have chosen the
>materialistic, iconoclastic, commercialised and mechanised route
>to producing our cultural heritage.'
>
>would you specify for us, refering to the idea and route just
mentioned...
>
>was this part of western culture before the reformation or at
any other
>time? if so at certain times and not at others, or even if it is
never
>part of our history, what idea would take its place?
>
>what was the alternative to the route we have chosen, if in fact
we have
>ever been on a different route?
*** THE MAIL FROM Brian Molanphy ENDS HERE ***
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The top posted mail was sent by Janet Kaiser
The Chapel of Art : Capel Celfyddyd
8 Marine Crescent : Criccieth : Wales : UK
Centre of Excellence for The Arts
Home of The International Potters' Path
Tel: ++44 (01766) 523570 http://www.the-coa.org.uk
Open: 13.00 to 17.00hrs : Tuesday to Saturday
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