The Shakespeare Conference: SHK 17.0500 Thursday, 25 May 2006
[1] From: Sam Small <This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.>
Date: Tuesday, 23 May 2006 23:03:20 +0100
Subj: Re: SHK 17.0476 The Big Question
[2] From: Joseph Egert <This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.>
Date: Wednesday, 24 May 2006 19:48:30 +0000
Subj: RE: SHK 17.0476 The Big Question
[1]-----------------------------------------------------------------
From: Sam Small <This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.>
Date: Tuesday, 23 May 2006 23:03:20 +0100
Subject: 17.0476 The Big Question
Comment: Re: SHK 17.0476 The Big Question
John W. Kennedy's formative, if a little tetchy, reply still did not
answer the question. I believe all artists are moralists by definition
of their life's work. To comment on life is to enter a moral discourse.
One could even argue that abstract artists take a view that the world
can be viewed in a purer state - away from the frailty of wrong-doers.
Surely Macbeth is designed to scare the be-Jesus out of the most casual
of viewers who might be tempted to stick in the knife. The moral
message, if you like, or better "experienced opinion of human behaviour
linked to a religious faith" is that wrong doing has terrible
consequences on the perpetrator as well as the victim. But is this
deeply Shakespearian notion true? If most of us dreamed of murder we
would wake up screaming. But to others it may not be true. Money and
ego is all that matters - those for whom a Shakespeare play is mere
platitudinous nonsense. In our world now there are Iagos, Aarons, and
Richards bent on destroying peace and love. They will never change.
Mr Kennedy should not chastise our governments (US & UK) by alluding to
"moral issues ... ignored". There is a world of difference between
astonishing incompetence and intelligent evil. Shakespeare had a view
on both.
SAM SMALL
[2]-------------------------------------------------------------
From: Joseph Egert <This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.>
Date: Wednesday, 24 May 2006 19:48:30 +0000
Subject: 17.0476 The Big Question
Comment: RE: SHK 17.0476 The Big Question
John Kennedy declares: "it is aesthetics, and not morality, that is the
proper concern of the artist..."
But John, "Could beauty have better commerce than with honesty?"
Joe Egert
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