Date: Wed, 13 Jun 2001 11:56:44 -0400
Subject: Re: Hopefully Seeking Sublime



----- Original Message -----
From: steve.devos <steve.devos-AT-krokodile.com>
To: <lyotard-AT-lists.village.virginia.edu>
Sent: Wednesday, June 13, 2001 6:48 AM
Subject: Re: Hoipefully Seeking Sublime


> Uhm - interesting developments a few sublime moments- whilst the
> personal is
> political it isn't usually that interesting, nor is it very meaningful
> on its own.
> For example the following list of sublime moments, indexed moments from
> a life has
> absolutely no meaning outside of its context. Hugh's occasional
> anti-theoretical
> stance, which could drift and may do so, into anti-intellectualism,
> which in the
> anglo-saxon world is a problem, scarcely seems justified. However why is
> the
> personal list of sublime moments more than, say a discussion of Being
> and Time
> over espresso in Soho? or explaining to a student the necessity of
> understanidng
> the different meanings of the split subject between Lancan and
> Kristeva?
>
> a few sublime moments from a personal history...
>
> - Reading Edmond Jabes for the first time - (The book of questions....
> sheer
> bliss)
> - Reading Marguerite Duras - The sailor from gibraltor -
> - The poll tax riot in London -
> - Waiting for the Genoa anti-globalisation demonstrations - (thinking of
> beginning
> to attend...)
> - Godard's Passion
> - Rivette's Out One Spectre or Cleline and Julie Go Boating
> - Cecil Taylor's piano playing - 'garden'
> - the birth of my children -
> - larry the siamese cat walking down the garden talking to itself and
> being
> followed by a deer. (Never did realise it was there...)
>
> sdv
>
> Julie Manning wrote:
>
> > Some of my personal experience of the sublime:
> >
> > -Wordsworth's "Ode to Immortality"
> >
> > -looking into the bright eyes of my 3-week old son, sensing who he may
be and
> > knowing he recognizes me
> >
> > > To:  All
> > >
> > > Preamble:
> > >
> > > A case could be made that Internet Fora get heaviest traffic from
persons of
> > > very strong personal interests, who often present them
> > > on their own sites.
> > >
> > > Or that academics who are least busy have most time for chat.
> > >
> > > Or that those who can name the most subjects and the largest number of
> > > authors can't resist the impulse.
> > >
> > > Or that quoting what a white male, dead for 100 years, said about
> > > a white male, dead for 200 years, is what list members are dying to
hear -
> > > remembering that being dead differs from not-being.
> > >
> > > Let's move in the direction of the sublime.via personal experience.
> > >
> > > Three short verses .....
> > >
> > >             I.
> > >
> > > A stick, a stone
> > > It's the end of the road
> > > It's feeling alone
> > > It's the weight of your load
> > >
> > >             II.
> > >
> > > Love is rare
> > > Life is strange
> > > Nothing lasts
> > > People change
> > >
> > >        III
> > >
> > > The years, like great black oxen tread the Earth
> > > And God the herdsman goads them on behind
> > > And I am broken by their passing feet.
> > > ~~~~~~
> > >
> > > For me, each verse has significant resonance, the last being, in some
> > > degree, sublime.
> > >
> > > Other instances,
> > >
> > > A certain painting of Rembrandt.
> > >
> > > Michelangelo's Pieta
> > >
> > > The Winged Victory of Samothrace
> > >
> > > Chartres Cathedral
> > >
> > > Vanessa Redgrave in "Orpheus Descending"
> > >
> > > ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
> > >
> > > You all must/may have similar extra-ordinary experiences and your own
> > > concept of what is sublime.
> > >
> > > Don't misinterpret these examples of  art as being the only examples
of  a
> > > quest for, and appreciation of, sublime feelings.
> > >
> > > On request, I will elaborate/reciprocate on a personal basis.
> > >
> > > A possible outcome:  We might or might not agree to post such
interpersonal
> > > results on the List.
> > >
> > > Best,
> > > Hugh