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Based in logic incoherent to the audience, the messenger realizes the folly of the ages past. A construct, inanimately lifeless, has emerged from our recognition that some type of spirit exists in all matter. Does the rock that lies still on the banks of the river revel in its understanding of its own life, or spirit? Are we to realize that trying re-instate ideas of the past is inappropriate. Founded with the concepts of the Greeks and Romans western civilization staggers through the dark like a deer that has been mangled by a large diesel truck. Confused that the re-animated past is the real genuine article we stumble idiotically through times continual demands. Our ships navigational system is the demented captain.
And on through the ages our re-animation of the past comforts us. We can recreate any concept that has ever existed to a point that we think we understand it when understanding is most definitely misunderstanding. A call to arms has been raised, countrymen rise up and revolt in the society that has repressed every need you ever had, revolt!! This is a call of rebellion; in the dark night the pain of loss consoles you, but fear not we must not be fouled any longer, revolt. The Revolution will not be televised. To segue into the mane thrust of this assertion is difficult. The issue has been raised that our concept of history is skewed. Reflecting how our perception has been skewed the history of art remains a valuable testimony to the deception that has taken place. From the viscious translucent past art acts as a reflection, illustrating how people from the ages through out. Wassily Kandinsky summarizes the primary question in art history, "does it have soul?" Viewing the world without spirit would make it seem absent of purpose or universal order. Without soul, spirit or some acceptance of why and how we are here, whatever they may be, we ultimately remain dead, lifeless. At the heart of his assertion Kandinsky calls for the recognition that many forms of art or concepts from the past does not necessarily hold spirit as an integral facet of existence. If it does not have soul how could you dance to it? Contained in Wassily Kandinsky's "Concerning the Spiritual in Art" is the statement "Any attempt to give new life to the artistic principles of the past can at best only result in a work of art that resembles a stillborn child" (Harrison and Wood, Pg. 87). Kandinsky's basis for this statement is that art should express the temporal dimension that it is in direct response to. By replicating Greek art we may only achieve a stylistic similarity to the work of the Greeks. Since our inner feelings could not even approach those of the ancient Greeks we are in no position to make Greek art. To Kandinsky the position of art was to be represented as it stood in its own frame of time. Each culture that comes into existence creates its own period of art which can not be repeated by those whom come after. As an integral part of his work the question of spirit drew Kandinsky closer to the essence of art. As a type of contemporary commentary art must be made to reflect the current era. A response or a call for something new, Kandinsky's understanding of the lack of spirituality in his time resulted in work that was very different from anything that had come before his time. |