Recently I was having a discussion about ‘art’ not being a conscious act, but from the subconscious (and collective unconscious as Jung describes it). The subconscious is not rational or logical but communicates with symbols and archetypes. The recent rise in antisemitism is dangerous because the archetype of the “evil Jew” is easily resurrected and very powerful, particularly in times of chaos like today.
After the October 7 attacks, I rewatched the Exodus movie to refresh my knowledge of the founding of Israel in the chaos following WWII and the Holocaust. I found myself yearning for the archetype of the feisty, courageous secular Jew fighting for basic human dignity and security.
Leon Uris’s story was very inclusive and optimistic and evoked the archetype of the young, ‘Puer aeternus’ David confronting the Goliath of world ostracism and discrimination. How dramatically these archetypes have shifted over the years as modern Israel has prospered and Arab Palestinians have floundered reverting from a powerful Goliath to hapless martyrs crushed beneath the boot of the ‘Zionist’ Goliath.
Art is the process of making subconscious forces and symbols conscious. To censor art is to promote propaganda which is disguising conscious motives as something deeper. Israel currently is engaged in numerous wars and is in danger of losing the battle of archetypes influencing the “hearts and minds” in the world’s narrative. This is a battle Israel cannot afford to lose.
Indeed. No true artist would want to ban another artist. These are not artists, these are politruks. And the fact that they wanted to ban even a film about the massacre at the music festival says it all.
The logical consequence of the Esteemed Thinking of Messrs Leigh and Loach is that there would be no goods left on the supermarket shelves, no books in the bookshops, no medicines in the pharmacies, no art in arts venues, and so ad nauseam. For vegans would seek to ban meat and dairy products, some to ban over-processed foods, some might have a horror of peas, some to ban baby-blood-made matzos, anti-vivisectionists to ban much medicine, and, good heavens, the Suella Bravermans would definitely ban Loach and Leigh films.
I'd disagree with your observation about artists not making good politicians and vice versa. Not over the validity of the conclusion but the underlying premise.
Keats said that we are right to despise art that has palpable designs upon us. But that is the very nature of politics and political people. They have expectations of how they want us to feel and think.
That's why I don't like Ken Loach films. I feel like he sees the audience as a congregation before anything else.
I've followed Mr Jacobson's work since Roots Shmoots, and I remember the episode when he surveyed an old decayed Jewish cemetery somewhere in Eastern Europe. It is absolutely shocking that anti-Semitism has risen once more, but from an unexpected place - the purported good guys of the left.
I have also lost the faith I had that the great progressive heroes like Loach, Chomsky et al were right overall but occasionally mistaken - but still in good faith. I've made the sad reassessment that they are indeed useful idiots.
The argument has long raged: can we separate the artist from the person (i.e., what he may believe)? In music, we have Wagner (an operatic giant but also an anti-Semite), Gieseking (a marvelous pianist, but accused of Nazi sympathies); world chess champion, Alexander Alekhine, was believed to have "collaborated" with the Nazis; poet Ezra Pound was a supporter of Mussolini...and the list goes on. As discussed in PAGANINI AGITATO, the great Niccolo Paganini had to walk a very fine line, as he was suspected of Jacobin sympathies during the post-Napoleonic era.
It would be wonderful if people could judge art objectively and ignore the artist. Sadly, that ideal appears beyond the capacity of the species at present.
But surely the point is that we should be free to decide for ourselves whether we judge or not. If someone wants not to listen to Wagner (for any reason), feel free. But don't treat others like wayward children requiring correction.
I believe we'll be seeing a version of this practice in the US with a film called 'the Apprentice', where the people that trotted out a fictitious (but touted opposite) tale titled '2000 Mules' are now trying to prohibit release of a likely non fiction flick, proof that misery loves company. While the violence level has not yet reached the example you've demonstrated, it is reportedly being planned, hoping the agency responsible for addressing that do not have boxes on their heads as well.
There are two sides to every story, that's for sure. It's a case of "think as I think, do as I do," with the underlying message: or else. Is it in human nature to always demonize the work of someone else, who is from the "opposing camp"?
If Ken Loach & Mike Leigh can't bring themselves to support screening an Israeli documentary about the Supernova Festival massacre, could they at least put their talents towards making their own film about the subject, or indeed the Hamas atrocities of 7th October 2023 in general?
Recently I was having a discussion about ‘art’ not being a conscious act, but from the subconscious (and collective unconscious as Jung describes it). The subconscious is not rational or logical but communicates with symbols and archetypes. The recent rise in antisemitism is dangerous because the archetype of the “evil Jew” is easily resurrected and very powerful, particularly in times of chaos like today.
After the October 7 attacks, I rewatched the Exodus movie to refresh my knowledge of the founding of Israel in the chaos following WWII and the Holocaust. I found myself yearning for the archetype of the feisty, courageous secular Jew fighting for basic human dignity and security.
Leon Uris’s story was very inclusive and optimistic and evoked the archetype of the young, ‘Puer aeternus’ David confronting the Goliath of world ostracism and discrimination. How dramatically these archetypes have shifted over the years as modern Israel has prospered and Arab Palestinians have floundered reverting from a powerful Goliath to hapless martyrs crushed beneath the boot of the ‘Zionist’ Goliath.
Art is the process of making subconscious forces and symbols conscious. To censor art is to promote propaganda which is disguising conscious motives as something deeper. Israel currently is engaged in numerous wars and is in danger of losing the battle of archetypes influencing the “hearts and minds” in the world’s narrative. This is a battle Israel cannot afford to lose.
Indeed. No true artist would want to ban another artist. These are not artists, these are politruks. And the fact that they wanted to ban even a film about the massacre at the music festival says it all.
The logical consequence of the Esteemed Thinking of Messrs Leigh and Loach is that there would be no goods left on the supermarket shelves, no books in the bookshops, no medicines in the pharmacies, no art in arts venues, and so ad nauseam. For vegans would seek to ban meat and dairy products, some to ban over-processed foods, some might have a horror of peas, some to ban baby-blood-made matzos, anti-vivisectionists to ban much medicine, and, good heavens, the Suella Bravermans would definitely ban Loach and Leigh films.
Baby's blood-so that's what made the matzah so tasty this year!
Thanks for the laughs.
I'd disagree with your observation about artists not making good politicians and vice versa. Not over the validity of the conclusion but the underlying premise.
Keats said that we are right to despise art that has palpable designs upon us. But that is the very nature of politics and political people. They have expectations of how they want us to feel and think.
That's why I don't like Ken Loach films. I feel like he sees the audience as a congregation before anything else.
I've followed Mr Jacobson's work since Roots Shmoots, and I remember the episode when he surveyed an old decayed Jewish cemetery somewhere in Eastern Europe. It is absolutely shocking that anti-Semitism has risen once more, but from an unexpected place - the purported good guys of the left.
I have also lost the faith I had that the great progressive heroes like Loach, Chomsky et al were right overall but occasionally mistaken - but still in good faith. I've made the sad reassessment that they are indeed useful idiots.
The argument has long raged: can we separate the artist from the person (i.e., what he may believe)? In music, we have Wagner (an operatic giant but also an anti-Semite), Gieseking (a marvelous pianist, but accused of Nazi sympathies); world chess champion, Alexander Alekhine, was believed to have "collaborated" with the Nazis; poet Ezra Pound was a supporter of Mussolini...and the list goes on. As discussed in PAGANINI AGITATO, the great Niccolo Paganini had to walk a very fine line, as he was suspected of Jacobin sympathies during the post-Napoleonic era.
It would be wonderful if people could judge art objectively and ignore the artist. Sadly, that ideal appears beyond the capacity of the species at present.
But surely the point is that we should be free to decide for ourselves whether we judge or not. If someone wants not to listen to Wagner (for any reason), feel free. But don't treat others like wayward children requiring correction.
It's a shame though about Mike Leigh as so far I have loved his compassionate films.
I believe we'll be seeing a version of this practice in the US with a film called 'the Apprentice', where the people that trotted out a fictitious (but touted opposite) tale titled '2000 Mules' are now trying to prohibit release of a likely non fiction flick, proof that misery loves company. While the violence level has not yet reached the example you've demonstrated, it is reportedly being planned, hoping the agency responsible for addressing that do not have boxes on their heads as well.
There are two sides to every story, that's for sure. It's a case of "think as I think, do as I do," with the underlying message: or else. Is it in human nature to always demonize the work of someone else, who is from the "opposing camp"?
If Ken Loach & Mike Leigh can't bring themselves to support screening an Israeli documentary about the Supernova Festival massacre, could they at least put their talents towards making their own film about the subject, or indeed the Hamas atrocities of 7th October 2023 in general?
Just a thought.