Date: Wed, 13 Jun 2001 15:00:12 -0400
Subject: Re: Hopefully Seeking Sublime


Julie, Steve, and All,

Both your responses include witness of  the miracle of birth,
of new life, as did my own post to the List a few years
ago when this subject was discussed.

I re-read "Intimations of Immortality" and think I understand its
significance, although it doesn't affect me as sublime.

Of the poetry examples I gave below, the first two were from popular music,
the last from Yeats.  I found those lines in a book of quotations, but have
not found the rest of the poem from which the quotation was taken.

A few nights ago, I heard a radio interview with Robert Ashley,
concerning his TV Opera, "Dust" co-authored with a Japanese visual artist,
and recently staged, first in Tokyo, then New York. I taped a couple of
pieces, have re-played them, and would certainly like to see one of the two
European productions.  One is in July, at Palais Royal in Paris, the other
in September, at Gulbenkian Museum in Lisbon.

Those interested can find details at :

http://www.lovely.com/events/events-summer01.html

Best,
Hugh

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

> 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
>