I suggest you read some of Walter Benjamin's better pieces of criticism (Maybe his piece, 'On the Image of Proust,' or his notorious Goethe's Elective Affinities;' or some of the Fruehromantik, like Schlegel's review of Goethe's Willhelm Meister). Part of the force of Benjamin's work is that criticism cannot be divorced from his development of manner of presentation, which is indeed artistic.
On Fri, Oct 10, 2008 at 11:55 AM, <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > I didn't initially respond to the exchange below because I assumed when > William said he found some criticism "aesthetically interesting" he did not > have in > mind what I did when I mentioned "occasioning an aesthetic experience". > To > answer Chris's question, No -- I have never derived an "aesthetic > experience" > from a critic's commentary, though I've certainly found much of it > interesting. > > > In a message dated 10/10/08 9:35:12 AM, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: > > > > William is not disagreeing with Cheerskeep -- he is just reporting that > he > > has found some "criticism to be as worthwhile aesthetically as > experiencing > > artworks directly." > > > > Which is also an interesting fact -- and also leads me to wonder whether > > anyone else might say the same. > > > > So -- let's put both questions on the table. > > > > 1. Has expert advice ever caused you to derive an aesthetic experience > from > > a > > work that did not occasion it before ? > > > > 2. Have you ever found ever found criticism to be as worthwhile > > aesthetically > > as experiencing artworks directly? > > > > > > And regarding that second question -- I would have to answer "yes" > > > > Not that criticism has ever been as worthwhile aesthetically to me as my > > favorite works have been -- but I have often found it as worthwhile -- or > > even > > more so ----than the works to which it refers. (as when a sharp reviewer > > trashes a movie that I found dull -- or when a literary critic is writing > > about poetry written in a language I can't read.) > > > > > > > > My response is I disagree with Cheerskep's proclamation. I find reading > > good > > literature and criticism to be as worthwhile aesthetically as > experiencing > > artworks directly. Camille Paglia's criticism of Emily Dickinson is one > > example. I chose that example because I can't be accused of liking just > > what > > is similar to my own aesthetic and because I'm interested in what > Cheerskep > > thinks of the critiques of Dickinson, his favorite "cherishable" poet. > > > > > ************** > New MapQuest Local shows what's happening at your destination. > Dining, Movies, Events, News & more. Try it out > (http://local.mapquest.com/?ncid=emlcntnew00000002)
