tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21736689.post2654518924642324807..comments2023-08-22T11:00:08.809-04:00Comments on Loose Ends: Favorite Books: Honoring the God: The Pursuit of Ethical Art in The Mask of ApolloPatrickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10556860299477514075noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21736689.post-81245184776308910622007-02-13T10:51:00.000-05:002007-02-13T10:51:00.000-05:00First off, I never expect people to read the books...First off, I never expect people to read the books I give them ONCE let alone twice (gifts, not homework, remember?)so no promises are expected or required. Reading this book while in pain, and feverish, I can't imagine that makes it an appealing experience to return to. I'm curious though about your habit of not returning to books. Is that true for plays as well? I know it's not true for movies for you. Just curious, but that's for a different discussion.<BR/>I agree that the stakes for Niko are significantly lower than for Dion/Plato; he even says himself, but I don't think I agree with the idea of him being 'at a distance'. Even before Dion tells him 'you're a teacher whether you accept it or not', he is already well aware that his artistic choices have repercussions in the larger community. Only later does he start to see them in political terms. I think he sees art as a way to engage with the issues that matter to us as people, communities, and cultures, and he starts to recognize the responsibility that gives him. I think he, Plato, and Dion all recognize that not everyone comes up to their standards of responsible citizenship, and they engage the issue with differing amounts of paternalism at times. Maybe this is one of the hardest aspects to deal with in any democracy. In general I feel like Niko is less surprised than the other two when people fail to respond to noble actions by rising to their own nobility. This is part of what I think gives him greater resilience; he knows people can let you down, and he doesn't let that demolish or control his moral choices. He isn't leading an army, or a government, so like I said, his stakes are lower, but I don't think this means he's standing outside the situation. <BR/>You're helping me refine my view of the book; part of what I love about it is the portrayal of an artist who sees his work as entertainment, religious calling, and moral exploration, with no one part being more or less important than the others. The recognition of this fact is part of what made Plato address the issue of theatre in his Republic in the first place. It's also why theatre is routinely one of the first things banned when a dictatorship takes over. I like your structure of artists standing in presentation of something, while leaders/philosophers stand in representation, but he and Dion agree that it is still up to him to decide what he chooses to present, and that is a moral responsibility he should (and does) take seriously.Patrickhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10556860299477514075noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21736689.post-27140799977986654112007-02-12T17:19:00.000-05:002007-02-12T17:19:00.000-05:00Of course, you are the only reason I have read thi...Of course, you are the only reason I have read this book, Patrick. I'm abashed to admit that reading it while in Italy (and in large part while feverish) may have skanted my perspective on it. I should probably read it again...an activity I almost never engage in. So no promises. I feel, all that aside, that Niko comes out on top, idealogically speaking, but that it's in part because, as an artist, he of necessity maintains a certain distance of perspective on events as they unfold around him. Whereas the politicians and philosophers around him are forced to stand in representation of their views, he gets to stand in presentation. That's not to say he's not held accountable; he is, and his loves influence him as much as the populace influence Dion. But, like most artists, part of Niko's power (lent to him/us by god[s]) is the ability to stand outside and say something without being killed for it. We hope.Jeffhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02728223817801458234noreply@blogger.com