Beauty.
One of the saddest things in my eyes regarding Western culture is having a sense of beauty is often (when not looking at women) regarded as being....gay. Our pop culture reinforces this notion on a frequent basis. Queer Eye for the Straight Guy for instance. Another I witnessed recently on a Cheers rerun. Norm was doing some interior decorating but while he was good at it, he could not let it get out he was a natural interior decorator for fear of being tagged gay.
Not only does our pop culture reinforce this idea but the arts and croissants crowd is all too happy to peddle the myth as well. After all a fellow who creates good art is ignored while the Mapplethorpes and Serranos of the world who create homoerotic art (taxpayer funded to boot) get all the glory (undeserved).
Listen to music that is occasionally played on public radio and listen with an open mind (though IMO WImP radio often chooses pieces that do not represent classical music well). Take notice of the scenery around you, notice the subtle differences in the greens that surround you, bask in the sparkle of snowflakes, take joy in the flavor of sour and sweet in your mouth, or celebrate the glorious flavor that steak with tears of joy. Feel the rhythm of a cleverly crafted poem. Notice the slightly off-balance design of Lambeau Field. Give yourself to it, life is too short and truly great moments are way too fleeting to reserve joy for just great moments. Search for joy in the small and common instead of the grand (continue to think grand but don't cheat yourself by missing the small).
In the book Shogun there is a scene where Lord Yabu and a lieutenant of his are sitting around a fire listening to the screams of one of Blackthorne's men being boiled in oil (at Yabu's order) and Yabu orders his subordinate to compose a haiku. The subordinate does and themes his haiku on the wretches screams. There are also scenes where these warriors are dancing, singing, and watching the sunrise. The message I took from this is the arts are not just for the "dainty".
Not only does our pop culture reinforce this idea but the arts and croissants crowd is all too happy to peddle the myth as well. After all a fellow who creates good art is ignored while the Mapplethorpes and Serranos of the world who create homoerotic art (taxpayer funded to boot) get all the glory (undeserved).
Listen to music that is occasionally played on public radio and listen with an open mind (though IMO WImP radio often chooses pieces that do not represent classical music well). Take notice of the scenery around you, notice the subtle differences in the greens that surround you, bask in the sparkle of snowflakes, take joy in the flavor of sour and sweet in your mouth, or celebrate the glorious flavor that steak with tears of joy. Feel the rhythm of a cleverly crafted poem. Notice the slightly off-balance design of Lambeau Field. Give yourself to it, life is too short and truly great moments are way too fleeting to reserve joy for just great moments. Search for joy in the small and common instead of the grand (continue to think grand but don't cheat yourself by missing the small).
In the book Shogun there is a scene where Lord Yabu and a lieutenant of his are sitting around a fire listening to the screams of one of Blackthorne's men being boiled in oil (at Yabu's order) and Yabu orders his subordinate to compose a haiku. The subordinate does and themes his haiku on the wretches screams. There are also scenes where these warriors are dancing, singing, and watching the sunrise. The message I took from this is the arts are not just for the "dainty".
posted by Marcus Aurelius at 10:20 PM
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