Would you please elaborate more on why Hamlet ought to be admired? I read the play in High School and, of all of Shakespeare's plays, it was the one I enjoyed the most, but I had never yet come upon someone who viewed Hamlet's character as admirable.
Of course! I did not provide any explanation when I made that statement, and there are risks that you have correctly noted. When I talk about the quality of the characters (Hamlet included), I don't mean them as human "models" but rather how "convincing" (or, using a more appropriate term, how "believable") they are. It is similar to the Medieval aesthetic discussion about “how beautiful” the fallen angels are in the context of Christian iconography. The discussion was not about the intrinsic qualities of those angels (who are morally bad), but rather about the quality of their artistic representation. (What is clear to me is that a much longer and deeper discussion about the “beauty” of artistic creations is absolutely necessary in order to avoid any confusion between different levels of the manifestation of “beauty”.) Thank you for this comment. I wish you a Merry and Blessed Christmas!
Thank you for taking the time to explain! I understand this much better now. We have really lost that side of beauty that corresponds to how well-developed characters are. I am glad you wrote on this topic. Merry Christmas to you, too!
“Suppose the apprehension of beauty is itself a way to truth? Suppose that “elegance”—as the word is used by physicists to describe their discoveries—is a key to ultimate reality?”
Thank you for this post. Beauty and is something I have been thinking about lately as it relates to paintings of the nativity. This essay has helped clarify my own thoughts on the subject.
Thank you very much, Mrs. Amelia! I am truly glad if my articles can bring some clarity to important and often difficult subjects. I wish you and your family a Blessed and Merry Christmas!
Thank you for sharing your article with us! Its conclusion reminds us both of the origin of True Beauty—the one we all strive for—and the significance of good art. "Eternal beauty is the inheritance of the sons of God. Good art reminds us to hold our original confidence firm to the end, that we may acquire possession of it."
Kind of sad that Joseph Pearce would use CS Lewis as an example of beauty, having such a fraudulent understanding of doctrine (truth). There is nothing so ugly, even revolting as a partial truth (Protestantism).
I understand your reaction regarding C.S. Lewis (and I am certain that Joseph Pearce would understand it as well). The discussion about the ambiguity of art in our fallen world is not an easy one. But I agree that we must address such a crucial topic. This is one of the most challenging questions we can ever meet: can a sinner/heterodox be a great creator? I will try to answer this question in some of my future articles. Thank you and Merry Christmas!
Would you please elaborate more on why Hamlet ought to be admired? I read the play in High School and, of all of Shakespeare's plays, it was the one I enjoyed the most, but I had never yet come upon someone who viewed Hamlet's character as admirable.
Of course! I did not provide any explanation when I made that statement, and there are risks that you have correctly noted. When I talk about the quality of the characters (Hamlet included), I don't mean them as human "models" but rather how "convincing" (or, using a more appropriate term, how "believable") they are. It is similar to the Medieval aesthetic discussion about “how beautiful” the fallen angels are in the context of Christian iconography. The discussion was not about the intrinsic qualities of those angels (who are morally bad), but rather about the quality of their artistic representation. (What is clear to me is that a much longer and deeper discussion about the “beauty” of artistic creations is absolutely necessary in order to avoid any confusion between different levels of the manifestation of “beauty”.) Thank you for this comment. I wish you a Merry and Blessed Christmas!
Thank you for taking the time to explain! I understand this much better now. We have really lost that side of beauty that corresponds to how well-developed characters are. I am glad you wrote on this topic. Merry Christmas to you, too!
“Suppose the apprehension of beauty is itself a way to truth? Suppose that “elegance”—as the word is used by physicists to describe their discoveries—is a key to ultimate reality?”
Rollo May
Thank you for this post. Beauty and is something I have been thinking about lately as it relates to paintings of the nativity. This essay has helped clarify my own thoughts on the subject.
Thank you very much, Mrs. Amelia! I am truly glad if my articles can bring some clarity to important and often difficult subjects. I wish you and your family a Blessed and Merry Christmas!
Thank you for all your well- thought posts, Robert! I appreciate them. A most blessed Christmas to you and your family!
Thank you very much! A blessed and happy Christmas to you and your family, Shannon!
Thank you for this enjoyable post.
I love the Aeneid quote, as well as, "The artist, (…), like the thinker or the scientist, seeks the truth and makes his appeal. "
I attempted to get at some similar ideas in this post, especially the Oscar Wilde opinions you mentioned:
https://open.substack.com/pub/codyilardo/p/meaning-outside-ourselves?r=1q8ur0&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=false
Thank you for sharing your article with us! Its conclusion reminds us both of the origin of True Beauty—the one we all strive for—and the significance of good art. "Eternal beauty is the inheritance of the sons of God. Good art reminds us to hold our original confidence firm to the end, that we may acquire possession of it."
Kind of sad that Joseph Pearce would use CS Lewis as an example of beauty, having such a fraudulent understanding of doctrine (truth). There is nothing so ugly, even revolting as a partial truth (Protestantism).
I understand your reaction regarding C.S. Lewis (and I am certain that Joseph Pearce would understand it as well). The discussion about the ambiguity of art in our fallen world is not an easy one. But I agree that we must address such a crucial topic. This is one of the most challenging questions we can ever meet: can a sinner/heterodox be a great creator? I will try to answer this question in some of my future articles. Thank you and Merry Christmas!