If this is true then real art itself is not subject nor product of the catharsis but rather the product of normality? The emotion would be the byproduct of the stress of trying to normalize one's life in the face of institutional and cultural resistances which try to make us into useless, idle consumers?
Interesting point. My opinion is that art begins at the level
of a basic desire to personalize our environment at very simple
physical levels. Where it involves profession, politics,
markets and institutions is another matter. There we are
involved in various complex dialogues like “what is art”,
“should we (the public) have to pay for it?”, “I have a pet
chimpanzee that can do that” etc. Certainly there is little
comparison between the practiced techniques and design sense of
the trained professional and the abilities of the dilitant.
However, that’s where the “genius” part comes in. When a
perticularly astute amatuer is able to grasp and exhibit
processes which are comparable to those of the trained, it is
recognized perhaps not as “genius” but as the work of a prodigy.
I believe there we are dealing with a hint of the divine
underpinning of creativity and it’s drive to be expressed in
humanity. Yes, as cynical as I am, I believe our role as
artists is somehow akin to what my old craft manager at
Greenfield Village told me. “David, your work is for the
greater glory of God.” That suits me. . . however and whatever
that is to be. I’m just in a state of spiritual angst because
all I can see is that I am in the business of catering to the
vanity of the idle rich and those disgusting socially aspirant
materialists from the middle class we call “Yuppies”. By the
way, if you find this idea of Coomaraswamy’s provocative, I bet
you would enjoy a book by Robert Persig (Zen and the Art of
Motorcycle Maintenance) called “Lila”. This could get to be an
interesting thread. Anyone read “Poetry of the Physical” by
Paul Lucie-Smith? Perhaps this thread should get into the areas
of the distinctions of art and craft.
David L. Huffman, bench philosopher, of sorts. . .