What are you reading right now?

Now were talkin'!!!


Do you think Nietzsche might have been too enamored with Wagner's wife to be objective in his criticisms?

have a

 

currently readind "the seat of the soul" by gary zukav. its deep:H

 

"All of the following chapters have been selected, not without caution, from my older writings—some go back all the way to 1877—perhaps clarified here and there, above all, shortened. Read consecutively, they will leave no doubt either about Richard Wagner or about me: we are antipodes. Yet other things will also become clear, for example, that this is an essay for psychologists, but not for Germans . . . I have my readers everywhere, in Vienna, in St. Petersburg, in Copenhagen and Stockholm, in Paris, in New York—I do not have them in Germany, Europe's lowland . . . And perhaps I could also say a word in the ear of my good Italians, whom I love, just as much as myself . . . Quousque tandem, Crispi**. . . Triple alliance: with the Reich an intelligent people can only enter a mésalliance . . ."

That is the forward for Nietzsche Contra Wagner. It is slightly innaccurate though, for several times though the message remains the same, the tone is decidedly different-much more harsh and bitter, which is logical. Nietzsche was nearing the end of his productive life, living in isolation and had become embittered and frustrated by the lack of feedback and response to his philosophy.

Who knows what it was about Wagner that Nietzsche just couldn't let go. Remember though, that Nietzsche's biological father died when he was young, so Wagner become a sort of surrogate father for him. I can remember when I was very young immediately accepting my father's opinions, but later becoming viciously opposed to his point of view. This is pretty normal I think, but that combined with the messy affair Nietzsche had with Wagner's wife, was enough to scar someone deeply.

I really don't know how important Wagner's wife was to Nietzsche, but whatever his love was for her, it wasn't as strong as his contempt for Wagner. The one passage that really seems to describe their relationship is in the Gay Science, somewhere in Book II. It says something about how it is usefull for a young man to be married or have a relationship with an older women, who is strong and wise, and provides guidance, but one ought to end the relationship after it is no longer usefull.

In any case...of course Nietzsche's criticisms against Wagner aren't going to be Objective. But that doesn't necessarily mean they aren't valid. I think most of his writing involving Wagner was emotionally charged. But consider some of his criticisms. To Nietzsche, Wagner seemed to represent the New Germany-a nationalist Germany, an Anti Semetic Germany, and a Germany of Bismarck. Whether Nietzsche's complete despise of these three things was caused by his split with Wagner, or if his split with Wagner was caused by his despise of them, I suppose we'll never know. But I like to think it is the latter.

Nietzsche's criticism of Wagner's art, I cannot be sure of the strength or weakness of. I'm no Wagnerian scholar, and don't think I've ever heard a composition by him. I'm not a source on the art of the time. The only analysis I can give on Nietzsche's criticism's of Wagner's art are the way they are written, which is a mixed bag of almost petty attacks and strong sounding arguements.

 

I like the Wagner as father idea. I'll chew on that...

I think maybe the women in his life were regarded rather lowly, but, my bet, is only in retrospect.

You know Wagner's - Ride of the Valkeries.




"...scares the hell outta the gooks!" Apocalypse Now

 

Yeah alot of his misogynist views were influence by La Rochefauld (sp?), a French aphorist that inspired alot of Nietzsche's style and form. His writings against women never do him any credit, and are always weaker in both style and content than his others.

 

'good woman' by lucille clifton. sparse and beautiful.

i've been meaning to read 'sore winners' by john powers, and definitely some chomsky.

 

well im currently between two books. i just finnished A Swiftly Tilting Planet by Madeline L'Engle, it was really good, my favourite in the series. and im reading Dangerous Angels by Francesca Lia Block, you'd sorta think it's more of a childs book (and i've read it repettitvly since i was a child) but it never gets boring, it's a very interesting book for teens, it's very creative, imaginitive and Totally Slinkster-cool! *thumbs-up*. And im reading Positivly 4th Street by David Hajdu, it's about Joan Biaz, Bob Dylan, Mimi Biaz Farina and Richard Farina, it's about how they started out and how they changed folk and rock music forever, a very enjoyable book.

 

Poker Essays Volume III by Mason Malmuth

 

Tibetan Book Of The Dead

 

i am reading one flew over the cookoos nest right now AT THIS VERY MOMENT!!!! crazy, man and im also listening to the yellow submarine

 

sorry, haven't read the thread, but in response to the original question: I have found an amazing book! "Tao: The Pathless Path" ~ Osho


my new favourite!

 

darkness in el derado anthro book about what ethics in ethnographies.

 

I'm reading cut by Patricia McCormick. Its about a teenage girl in a "residential treatment facility" because she cuts herself.

 

"1984" by George Orwell (i've read before though)

 

Ghost Pirates.


-Pedata

 

'68 - Mark Kurlansky

 

Mercy by Jodi Picoult, she is the best author, I highly reccomend her

 

At the moment I am reading 'From the Early Days of Page and Plant' by Ritchie Yorke. I'm also looking at various fantasy art books like Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit.

 

Into The Wild by Jon Krakauer

...it's an awesome book