My attitude to transgenerational and transcultural art is similar to what
William expresses below -- but I don't see how that is evidence of an
"egocentric desire to believe itself to be universal", and it diminishes the
moral power of that phrase to apply it so carelessly.
The only desire involved is to "be in the presence of their aesthetic".
And does it really take any special ability to "remain unaffected by their
magic or symbolism"? Wouldn't it take a much greater ability to respond to
those Native American artifacts in the way originally intended? (which
Heidegger tells us is impossible anyway)
My father's teacher, Milton Horn, had a large collection of transgenerational
and transcultural art -- including 19th C Euro-Amerian paintings, Japanese
prints, and sculpture from Medieval France, Germany, India, China, and even
a piece from ancient Rome and Africa. (eventually, it would all go to
Christie's to support him in his old age)
He always said that he kept these pieces around to "learn from them", and
that they "were his teachers". But if he had an "egocentric desire to believe
himself to be universal" -- he certainly chose an unlikely way to express it,
because his own work was an attempt to create a style of Jewish liturgical
sculpture - a genre that could only appeal to Jews who were traditional
enough to be interested in such things, but non-traditional enough to break
the fourth commandment.
There are many ways in which our civilization is acting irresponsibly
(ego-centrically?) regarding the planet and the cultures that it has inherited
-- but preserving/cherishing/using transgenerational and transcultural art is
not one of them.
********************
**
>Yes, I think so. By having some artifacts of Native American cultures, I
not
only express my admiration and humility in the presence of their aesthetic
but
I also reinforce my inherited Euro-centrist heritage to demonstrate my
ability
to admire it without adopting its symbolic purposes. That heritage/ability
enables me to feel superior to the artifacts, to remain unaffected by their
magic or symbolism.
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