Usually I read a fairly diverse collection of materials. I may be reading a novel, a non-fiction book concerning some element of psychology, theology, philosophy, etc. Often these texts are never related to each other in any meaningful sense. I suppose my current reading has been somewhat influenced by my reading of Steinbeck’s ‘The Grapes of Wrath’ and wanting more exposure to farming/agrarian concerns. So I decided to buy a book by Wendell Berry entitled ‘What are People For?’
‘What are People For?’ is a collection of essays commenting on biographies and former teachers, along with popular literary works. In a particularly moving essay, he compares the ’styles’ of two eloquent works centered around rivers: Hemingway’s ‘Big Two-hearted River’ and Maclean’s ‘A River Runs Through It.’ last night as I read the beginning of the essay as Berry comments on’Big Two-hearted River’ that I would love to read his thoughts about ‘A River Runs Through It.’ A commentary on this work began in the next paragraph. I though it was a striking coincidence.
My next move was to pick up my copy of ’A River Runs Through It,’ the 25th anniversary edition. I noticed upon reading the cover that the introduction to the 25th anniversary edition was written by Pulitzer Prize-winner E. Anne Proulx. Interesting, because before a couple of days ago I didn’t know who she was, even though I have read the introduction several times before. I learned who she was because two days ago I rented a film adaptation of her novel ’The Shipping News.’ Of course the coincidences could stop there, but upon reading Proulx’s introduction, I noticed that she referenced Wallace Stegner in her introduction with relation to his contributions to Western regional story-telling.
What made Proulx’s mention of Stegner interesting is that Wendell Berry has an essay about him in the book ‘What Are People For?’ that I read last night as well. It seems that Berry even spent an entire year with Stegner as part of a fellowship at Stanford University. So now my books are connected in explicit content; however it was theme that compelled me to write this post.
Berry comments on a poem by Hayden Carruth entitled ‘On Being Asked to Write a Poem Against the War in Vietnam.’ This work appears to state that writing a poem against the war is pointless, except paradoxically, this is stated by means of a poem. We are reminded by Berry of the difference between despair and hope, in that complete despair does not even attempt to speak at all. Soft hopefullness uses communication, and especially art, to mantain the potential for change. It is person, not societal, change that is most relevant to this discussion of hope.
In reading this poem criticism by Berry I was reminded of two important issues I had previously read about. The first was from ‘Grapes of Wrath’ when Steinbeck speaks about fear and wrath, and their relation. We should not fear the time when men are angery, or when the bombs fall. We should be fearful of the time the bombers live but do not bomb, because there is no hope left. Despair has overtaken hope. I will post that passage in full after finishing this post.
The second point is the role of art in technological change. I read Tyler Veak’s introduction to ’Democratizing Technology: Andrew Feenberg’s Critical Theory of Technology,’ a work in which he serves as editor. I honestly did not understand half or maybe even three-fourths of what I read. I did however see the possibility and importance of using art as a means by which technological structures might be altered. This may mean a lot of things, and i hope to understand it better in the days to come. In addition, I checked the book out of the Liberty University library. As I walked into the stacks, I noticed an empty desk to my left in the front of the room. On my way out with ‘Democratizing Technology,’ Dr. Veak was sitting at the desk.
I could not help but be reminded of the relationship of art and technology upon reading Proulx’s introduction to ‘A River Runs Through It’ and ‘What Are People For?’ Proulx uses art as a means by which the essential truths of human experience can be encapsulated and given to those searching for answers and personally relating to that common experience. We can attempt to make shape of what was previously shapeless. In relation, Berry states in a essay entitled ‘Style and Grace’ (on Hemingway and Maclean) that “works of art participate in our lives; we are not just distant servers of their lives. They are in conversation among themselves and with us.”
Applying this web of topics and information to something concrete should be attempted. I can think of no better subject than my previous post subject: Hulk Hogan. The first observation is that I attempted to state in my previous post the irrelevance of even speaking about the problems and absurd situations created by what the Hulk does, what he embodies, and what he produces. My silence on the subject, I would like to think, would be less useful than verbally acknowledging the fact that what is said may in reality have little meaning. Is this similar to the paradox spoken about by Berry in regard to the Vietnam poem? I would like to think so.
Secondly, Hogan lacks any semblanceto a producer of what has been discussed by the authors above as art, in any way, shape, or form. The difficulty lies in a career filled with fakery, with a rise to fame through the entertainment business of professional wrestling. Long known for staged fighting and outcomes, the world of professional wrestling can almost assuredly be characterized as wholly devoid of art. Art itself can be used in variety of ways, but I like to include such ideas as beauty, production, relevance, and significance. It could be argued that a scripted reality show (such as ‘Hogan Knows Best’) does not meet the criteria for art, either.
The tragedy of a life publicly producing what might be called the antithesis of art is that it is a life totally lacking substance. The faux front is all that is there; when life crumbles there is no support, nothing to hold fast, nothing to prevent the fall. This statement has theological considerations as well; luckily for us, art maintains a prominent place in theological study. As for Hogan and his family, art will not solve all of their problems. Of course not. All I am saying is that life lived well will naturally be attracted to art, and will desire to produce art. it will desire to produce what is beautiful, what is significant. Between persons and between persons and God, we are blessed to experience each other through art.
Speaking of the future, Hogan’s new shows might be a step in the right direction:
Hulk Hogan’s Celebrity Championship Wrestling - American Gladiators
