To thine own self be true

(Coiner of the term “Global Village”–Canada’s media guru Marshall McLuhan)

(Since this poem was written, Russia has been engaged in a pointless 3 month genocide of Ukraine with a follow-up of innumerable economic sanctions, making Russia the pariah of the world. The Global Village which had been running relatively fine with free trade everywhere has shrunk with these sanctions, but the rest of the world remains a global village sans Russia as their economy nosedives.)

Otherwise, I stand by the truths of this poem that individuals must needs be, first and foremost, autonomous individuals before the benefits of sharing and connection can be fulfilled. To thine own self be true as played out during and after the pandemic. One must be connected to one’s own lived process to make any sense of the rest of it, so to speak.

“The Persistence of Memory”–Salvador Dali

was Aesthetics on the Philosophy of Art and Beauty. Everything/every idea/every assumption/every opinion was torn apart or criticized ad nauseam. But that said, my understanding of Arts, in particular, did move forward and increase.

From the ground up. it was clear that Art evokes emotions and responses of all kinds even though it’s obviously impossible to agree on a universal definition.

I now believe that Art is an artifact or experience, imaginatively and consciously created, with intention and purpose, to communicate with and affect viewers–higher art being that which increases consciousness and awareness of audiences, even inspiring them to make major changes in their lives, beliefs, and values.

In short, Art affects ethics, morality, social consciousness, and individual or mass human behaviors and actions. The aesthetics of a piece or experience clearly has potentially mental enlightening, soul/spirit-developing benefits and values.

Does Art help us to cope with Life and limitations? Yes. Does it improve the way we interact with world/social reality? Yes. (Aristotle was the first philosopher btw who sided with Arts for their power of catharsis alone.)

However, if it’s ‘morally-stained’, degrading, corrupt, exploitive, or inspires violence, it is defective, limited, not good art. There are, generally speaking, criteria for what makes good and even great Art, that are far more significant, purposeful, freeing, and meaningful.

Of Beauty, it is mostly argued that it is in the eye of the beholder, to begin with, via individual awareness. However, there are many beautiful works or experiences that masses can agree on are beautiful. So there is a larger, more objective (if we go by numbers) view of Beauty, also supported by the passage of Time, and beautiful things remaining beautiful over long periods of Time (e.g. Mona Lisa, the pyramids, Beethoven’s Fifth).

Truth often enters the picture (Keats believed they were alike and supported one another): as in the rational criteria-based observations of large critical bodies of opinions and arguments, or in the proofs of Time and universality (across different cultures).
And so it is true that many things are beautiful, including those things not made by humans–by Nature, for instance.

But do I recommend a course in Aesthetics? No. Just some introductory readings will suffice about the basic issues that get typically argued.

There is unquestionable value/s in Art and Beauty that make them essential things to ponder and pursue. It is good to experience Beauty and Art in one’s life. They do elevate one and speak to the inner life. They offer ideals in total contrast to the human world of lies, disinformation, pig-piling, mobs looking for crazy leaders, trucker convoys, the degradation of women and non-caucasian races, abject poverty, wars, ignorance, and an ongoing slough of human ignorance and corrupt agendas.

Mayday Tree

Lilacs

While walking, spotted a mallard and his mate on someone’s lawn munching on debris below a tree about a mile from the park pond.
Later, on my bike ride, encountered two large Canada geese walking down the street by the school as if they owned the place.
These guys may have been spooked by any long weekend events over at the park. Either that, or food is scarce there.

Also spotted a seven foot guy dressed completely in blue walking down the back lane, setting off dogs to barking. Frankenstein’s monster redux?

impoverishment and enrichment, choose to live life fully!

Wow! When least expected, the long out-of-print cult classic CD soundtrack rereleased in 2022.

Originally a funny black comedy stage-play by Colin Higgins, which I saw movingly performed at Citadel Theatre in 1978 with U.K. movie legend Glynis Johns, directed by Peter Coe, with 100 white balloons dropping at the end of each show to Moody Blues music!

Adapted by Higgins for the cult classic movie directed by Hal Ashby in 1971, with music by Cat Stevens, starring Bud Court and the hilarious Ruth Gordon in one of her best-ever roles.