Conrad Blog:

"Art" - Ch. 2.

In response to previous comments, yes kate purpuse is a dangerous word. But not when you consider how everything in life is connected. That makes nothing purposeless. It is how I can say that every thing that happened in the entire course of human history changed my life. Even if I don't know about it. Purpose - very loose. And yes I read the introduction and appreciate the fact that this book comes from an old and perhaps frustrated, but nonetheless perhaps wiser, perhaps more sentimental Tolstoy. John I don't think that assuming a culture has a common set of metaphors means that there is underlying absolutes about something. I can say my soul is black and nearly all Westerners will be creeped out by that. That is what I mean by a common metaphor.

This leads me in to chapter two. Tolstoy talks about how there is no "beautiful" deed or music in the Russian language. In Russian, the word beautiful only applies to visual pleasurefulness. This separates the "good" from the "beautiful" a bit. IIIInteresting. Ok ok short chapter tolstoy closes out by quoting two people on what art is... Schasler and Veron... Schasler kinda says, "either you define art with flowery empty words or you clumsily try with awkward philosophic terms... no wait there's a mix of those too as well." Veron kinda says, "there's an absolute beauty. art is sorta a physical manifestation of it... which is why its so different cuz each work of art shows the ideal from a different angle." I am having trouble with these two quotes... why are they compared? what am I supposed to learn about the one from the other? maybe I am reading one or both wrong...

Ok Tolstoy I'm waiting for you to blow my mind. You are not doing it yet. You are like Charlie Peacock in this book "At the Crossroads." You talk a lot about the question and do not talk about the answer much. I am well aware of the questions. I am well versed in why we should ask them. I am even ready to throw off my own biases and listen to you, wizened old man that you are. Okay okay, bring it on already! perhaps tomorrow.