Here are a few things or people that have my attention this week:
1. Movie: Notorious. Grant, Bergman, and Hitchcock. This movie doesn't get as much attention as North By Northwest or Rebecca, but is as good. Bergman was smokin' and classy(in a naughty kind of way)....not a bad combination.
2. Book: The Cornel West Reader. I try to revisit this book about once a year. I am constantly reminded of what a mind can be if pushed and strengthened when reading Prof. West. Understand, I have absolutely no common ground with him, practically. Meaning, in theory, his ideas of faith, fortitude, and function in a chaotic world resonate with me. His ability to pierce the fog, as it were, and connect realities....those seen and unseen....are rarely matched. Yet, his application of these abilities, politically or otherwise, leave me alone and bereft of sympathy. But therein lies the beauty for me. To be stretched, twisted, and strengthened, one must look to voices coming from other directions. His voice is one I cherish..... one I need.
3. Music:
I. Chet Baker. The Essential: Chet Baker Sings is one of the best albums I have. While an incredible instrumentalist, it is his voice...which he loathed...that makes him special. Melodic and haunting, this is a must for quiet solitary evenings or a night with the ladies.
II. Bob Dylan. Freewheelin Bob Dylan is also one of the best albums in my possession...and it is, arguably, one of the best albums ever recorded. Check out Corrina Corrina.
4. Finally...Scarlett Johansson. Actually, I've not seen her recently in anything, and I just wanted to put her picture up. Looking at her is definitely good for the soul.
10 comments:
By day I am a law student, and one occasionally troubled by the hermetic nature of such a vocation. Most of my academic work, influence, and exposure is limited to that of a small cubicle... destined to be filed away and forgotten. It is in this spirit that I reflect on Cornel West - a man who's academic influence surpasses mine in such a way as to be almost comical. I find myself recalling Professor West's decision to leave Harvard for Princeton, feeling "disrespected" by the suggestion that he produce new and appropriate academic research. West is known for his lucrative career as a public speaker, has recorded a rap CD, and supported Al Sharpton's bid for the U.S. presidency. His decision to decamp to Princeton was one of many that betrayed tragic assumptions about his character and nature, of the sort that lead too many African-American leaders and thinkers to reinforce the very stereotypes they seek to exterminate. The African-American cultural experience which West promulgates with such enthusiasm has become the mantra of the "everyday" black man in America. Rather than West's reflexive insistence that blacks are relegated to working within a cultural system that inherently oppresses African-Americans, it would be refreshing to see black intellectuals embrace an ideology that would lead to meaningful social, economic, and cultural gains within African-American communities.
hmmm, I like Scarlett Johanssen.
i am usually loathe to comment on my own post, but sometimes it is necessary. my only point here is to reiterate the thought that, while i disagree...completely and definitively....with prof. west at the point of theoretical application, i truly appreciate his voice, and realize that i am better for having found it.
some might have a problem with me effusively praising an avowed marxist. the problem is, again, i'm not praising the chosen application of any of his ideas. i am, simply, saying that i believe his motives to be true, faithful, and authentic.
in short, there are those that would choose, and their actions reveal this, for faith, country, and national identity to be absent and eradicated from everyday life. these folks receive nothing from me but disdain and contempt, as they try to advance an agenda contrary to, what i believe to be, everything that our social, political, and cultural system is founded on. these folks want to dismantle the entire social fabric of this great experiment and re-constitute. prof. west is not this person. his writings indicate that he sees how dark and troubled this world is, that he leans on a fragile and tempered faith in Christ, and that he is trying to make sense of things that we, as finite beings, can't innately grasp. this, my friends, is a man of my heart. a man of struggle...a man of knowledge...a man of faith...and a man of questions.
To quickly get these other matters out of the way:
1. Anything with Grant, Bergman, and Bogart has to be good.
2. I’ll have to check out that Chet Baker disc. As for “Freewheelin…”, anyone familiar to spydrzweb knows my thoughts.
3. In my opinion, Ms. Johansson is one of the most over-rated “sex symbols” Hollywood has produced in the recent years. She is, to me, the film equivalent of a Sheryl Crow album…Just musical enough to surpass any of the other refuse that passes for pop music these days, but not quite intriguing enough to fall into the “well, at least she’s making good music” category...That picture is also the first time I have seen her, whether in picture or film, and thought she were attractive.
Now onto Prof West:
Disclaimer: I have never read Prof. West’s work…So, take these comments for what they are.
I can completely understand the “sincerity makes occasion” argument, especially given the its lack in those of his ilk, but after having read the post and subsequent comments, I am left wondering whether wisdom or knowledge is the criteria for our praising the fruit of one’s intellect. Essentially, Prof. West can claim to and take pride in the breadth of his learning without criticism as he is, most likely, truly learned, but as I see it, his credentials, in light of the inapplicability of his beliefs, serve as little but an indictment of his own want for wisdom. The issue here is that knowledge, and nothing else, can be attained from books (save one), and anyone can attain it. True wisdom, however, is born neither in the study nor in the object of its focus but in the ability of the student to take from what knowledge is available and apply in a manner befitting. Hence, the lack of appliance in his beliefs leaves one with the conclusion that Prof. West has either been subject to a shortsighted pool of information from which to draw his conclusions and is too blunt to have realized it, or that he has, in fact, access to the same information as those who actually draw from it conclusions that correctly address society’s questions and lacks the wisdom to do the same. So, if we are to celebrate for the sake of knowledge, let him be praised for his viewpoint, but if for wisdom, I just cannot make that leap.
Having said that, I do believe that there is great benefit in the measured study of those whose perspective differs from your own if for no other reason than to reaffirm your own beliefs, but to defer to one simply as they are sincere in their folly is to limit yourself to their same fate
cheers
dr.z- generally, i agree with you. yet, here you are a bit off. this is probably due to a lack of experience with prof. west's work, as you indicated. thus, i would strongly suggest...implore...that all get his reader and try it.
as to the specifics of my thoughts on the matter...one of the definitive characteristics of his writings is the idea of the struggle of man. his grasp here....the idea of the truly fallen nature of finite beings, the struggle for relevance and survival in an absurd world(see kafka or kierkegaard), and the effects of this struggle on society....is what speaks to me. he is one of the few modern authors who express, as i feel as well, that writhing, painful, and necessary fight for survival....personally, spiritually, and politically. most focus on the latter application, whereas, i focus on the former two.
“he is one of the few modern authors who express, as i feel as well, that writhing, painful, and necessary fight for survival....personally, spiritually, and politically. most focus on the latter application, whereas, i focus on the former two."
The issue I take with much modern thought is the idea that the three “applications”, or any of the like, can be derived, assessed, applied, or even exist separate of the others. These are three arenas of interest of which the very nature of one causes the other two to be predicated upon it.
Still, I have not read this book. So I cannot criticize. Well, not with any foundation.
Seeing as these (personal, spiritual, political) are not independent of one another, I would be interested to know how he draws some of the conclusions he does about society while owning to a form of Christianity. There absolutes of the faith that must transcend however it is that one would seek to compartmentalize their world view.
Dr.Z- thoughts:
1. you bring up a crucial point. namely, how can/does one separate areas of life(personal,spiritual,political, etc.), when faith is supposed to be all-encompassing? My response would be to say that yes, naturally, they inform each other. But to say that one claims the same faith, has the same struggle for self-meaning and definition, and does this sincerely...and, thus, must come to the same conclusion practically, is something i am unwilling to commit to. simply, to believe this, would mean that one has an intrinsic knowledge and understanding of another's motive. this is too far a bridge for me to cross, as it were.
2. specifically, with west...his search is one that i identify with as similar to my own. his awareness of man's limits and aspirations are similar to the questions that i have. just because he reaches a drastically different point politically than i, doesn't mean that his journey is any less sincere. for example, west finds a restrained marxist model for political application necessary to adjust to, and eradicate, injustices placed on humans by other humans. whereas, i fundamentally believe that the church should be the primary agent for social reconciliation. west believes that a strong federal government is most useful for positive change, while i believe that community needs are best served by strong local governments and social activity.
think of it as two lines on a graph that start in drastically juxtaposed positions, that wind their way through from point to point, and then briefly meet at a common point of understanding and interaction....eventually parting to separate destinations and resting points. mine is an appreciation of the common ground found in two very different people, coming from very different backgrounds, and reaching very different conclusions.
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