[lit-ideas] Re: Awakening from the Nightmare of History
- From: "Andy Amago" <aamago@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: lit-ideas@xxxxxxxxxxxxx, lit-ideas@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
- Date: Sat, 6 Aug 2005 09:24:22 -0400
> [Original Message]
> From: Eric Yost <eyost1132@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
> To: <lit-ideas@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
> Date: 8/6/2005 2:10:24 AM
> Subject: [lit-ideas] Re: Awakening from the Nightmare of History
>
> Andy: Don't you think being immortalized through one's work is at
> least the secret ambition of most writers and artists?
>
>
> Eric: There's an excellent critique of this in Milan Kundera's
> _Immortality_, which I cannot recommend highly enough.
>
> Most artists and writers I know do their work because the work
> itself is very satisfying. It's fun to write. It's fun to draw. It's
> fun to get better at something that is fun. I don't know anyone who
> carries the immortality baggage.
I said it was a secret ambition. Creation is certainly fun in and of
itself, but it's awfully nice to have it read and appreciated by others,
especially through the ages.
Most are happy to see their skill
> improve, publish a story, sell a painting, play at a respected hall,
> etc.
>
No doubt. Those good reviews are nice too.
> If you really want to get all blocked up, one of the best ways is to
> sit down in the morning and think, "Now I shall write my immortal
> sestina." Pow! Major creative block.
>
> Art is discovery. Painters discover new ways of seeing. Writers
> discover new verbal effects. Immortality is probably more for the
> audience.
>
No doubt about this too. Still, people are often the last to know their
innermost thoughts and desires. Some are honest about it, like John
Milton, who set out to write an immortal work and actually succeeded at it.
> "Heard Pollini play at Carnegie Hall last night."
> "What did he play?"
> "Mostly immortal stuff...oh yeah, and some contemporary composers."
>
I would imagine "immortal stuff" is code for Bach and Mozart. Immortal
works for me.
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