[silence] Aesthetics

[MITCHELL RENNER]

I couldn't help but laugh at this one, as my memory fails me, and it seems like gibberish on my part.  Let's see...

In the earlier interviews and media references I came across studying Cage's life several years ago, it seemed that the aspect of non-intentionality or non-purpose was mentioned more than the aspect of sobering and quieting the mind for receptiveness to divine influence.  That was somewhat startling for me, because I didn't think you could understand Cage's music without realizing both aspects.  People were clamoring about this music which had no purpose at all (the negative), but absolutely, it had a purpose, as did 4'33" and all of Cage's works (to renunciate in order to be susceptible, to be empty in order to be receptive...).  One can choose to view only the negative, but there was a positive aspect as well, and I was always surprised when the one was mentioned and not the other.  But, isn't that typical of media - to get it all wrong, and emphasize only a one-sided view of life, which ultimately can only be viewed subjectively?

It would be interesting to know if Cage said anything about these
ideals towards the end of his life; if they changed, remained with him,
or maybe were subsumed to the point of not thinking much at all about
them.  Certainly they were powerful moral and aesthetic compasses in his work, and a reason why his work will continue to be of interest to others.

Mystics live longer than others in that way.

>I pondered this for several minutes and determined that "being >susceptible to divine influences" is surely positive, and having a lack >of purpose is either negative or is depressing, but together, they >seem to be very beneficial, both of them.
>
>Regards,
>Carl
> 
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: silence-bounces@list.mail.virginia.edu
> [mailto:silence-bounces@list.mail.virginia.edu] On Behalf Of Glenn
> Freeman
> Sent: Wednesday, February 18, 2009 3:47 PM
> To: silence@list.mail.virginia.edu
> Subject: Re: [silence] Aesthetics
> 
> ok. which one is which?
> 
> Mitchell Renner wrote:
> 
>  > In my studies of Cage, I realized two main stated purposes - one,  
> of non-intentionality or lack of purpose, as you mention;
>  > and two, "to sober and quiet the mind, thus making it susceptible  
> to divine influences." (from Coomaraswamy)
>  > Notice one is a negative and one a positive.
> 
> Glenn Freeman

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