By Alaine de Botton and John Armstrong.
I always enjoy reading de Botton. He is a very well read and well thought writer. His words are clear and precise. Evocative without being dramatic. His sentences are not black and white. He communicates meaning that exists on spectrum. He chooses the precise words to communicate where his meaning is on that spectrum. No more, no less. The emotion without the hyperbole is refreshing.
If I learn nothing else from this book, it's to use "lovely" instead of "love" when I want to convey something positive-- "I love this coffee" v.s. "This coffee is lovely." Love is way overused for situations where we really mean that something is pleasant.
On to the book. de Botton and Armstrong hit on a great theme around art-- that much of art is made for something, To rebel against the system. To convey love. To honor a moment. Yet we catalog art by artist, time period and region.
Why not interact with art, according to the motives that we need, that improve our lives...
Art for the newly in love.
Art for those in pain. How to suffer successfully.
Art for those contemplating lives choices.
Art for politics.
and so on.
I smiled when I read the phrase "How to suffer more successfully?" It communicates that pain is a part of life, yet we can become better people if we engage with it properly.
Through many of these themes, de Botton and Armstrong discuss the 'why' of a particular work of art.
Perhaps through a deeper viewing, art can inspire us to be better people.
I always enjoy reading de Botton. He is a very well read and well thought writer. His words are clear and precise. Evocative without being dramatic. His sentences are not black and white. He communicates meaning that exists on spectrum. He chooses the precise words to communicate where his meaning is on that spectrum. No more, no less. The emotion without the hyperbole is refreshing.
If I learn nothing else from this book, it's to use "lovely" instead of "love" when I want to convey something positive-- "I love this coffee" v.s. "This coffee is lovely." Love is way overused for situations where we really mean that something is pleasant.
On to the book. de Botton and Armstrong hit on a great theme around art-- that much of art is made for something, To rebel against the system. To convey love. To honor a moment. Yet we catalog art by artist, time period and region.
Why not interact with art, according to the motives that we need, that improve our lives...
Art for the newly in love.
Art for those in pain. How to suffer successfully.
Art for those contemplating lives choices.
Art for politics.
and so on.
I smiled when I read the phrase "How to suffer more successfully?" It communicates that pain is a part of life, yet we can become better people if we engage with it properly.
Through many of these themes, de Botton and Armstrong discuss the 'why' of a particular work of art.
Perhaps through a deeper viewing, art can inspire us to be better people.
2 comments:
I'll have to start from the beginning and read the blog.. Thanks for adding it to your list
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