It’s Christmas week, and we should be blogging about happier subjects. Yes, we’re still in a civilizational nosedive, but we can always return to that catastrophe in a week or two, assuming we don’t hit the ground first. And despite the left's best efforts, destroying civilization isn’t as easy as it looks.
Moreover, even the leftist doesn’t really want to live in the violent, repressive, and, worst of all, humorless world his theories and policies bring about, right? Right? RIGHT?!
I heard somewhere that old John Cleese is finally waking up to wokeness, after 83 years of making a nuisance of himself (he actually offered to be a speechwriter for Obama, and not because he saw that Obama himself is capable only of cliches, smears, and straw man arguments). A reminder that
The leaden prose of the Marxist offers an irresistible attraction to leaden minds (Davila).
Unfair, or too fair? Cleese recently described the Republican Party as the "most disgracefully immoral people I've ever come across in a Western civilization.”
On second thought, the perfect speechwriter for Obama! I mean, I can’t stand Republican leaders either, but Cleese will be surprised to discover that Western civilization has actually seen worse.
"The progressive," writes Sr. D., "travels among literary works as the Puritan did among cathedrals: with hammer in hand.” Until the hammer is turned on him. Then it's not so fun being the Nail of the Day.
Nevertheless, it’s not a virtue to defend yourself from being clubbed to death. Then again, discovery of the survival instinct is a very good place to begin one’s meditation on politics and human nature.
In any event, I predict Cleese will not live long enough to undergo a full-monty Alec Guinness:
But again, tomorrow it will be the eve of Christmas Eve Eve Eve, so let’s keep it light despite the darkness.
And for once, no pun intended: let's cerebrate this idea of the Light shining in the darkness, because if it’s true, it’s not just good news for sinners and even the IRS, but equally for thinkers, given all the bad and destructive ideas to which man is inclined (see above).
Oh, by the way, if we don’t get more than the occasional comment, I’m going to be forced to turn off comments. Too humiliating! I recall a deal we made several years ago, when far-flung members of the vertical diaspora promised to check in once a year. Perhaps they no longer exist, or have passed on to Bismarck. If you're dead, then never mind.
Our subject today is metaphysics. But really, we’re just going back to the previous discussion of Lonergan’s Understanding and Being, which took us through Lecture 7. How convenient that Lecture 8 is called A Definition of Metaphysics. It probably won’t be my definition, but that’s okay. Iron sharpens irony.
Maybe the posts are too long? I’m not aware of any other blogger who burdens the reader with such endless circumnavelgazing on a near daily basis.
As always, my excuse is that I do it for no one’s benefit but my own, because how can you help anyone else if you can’t help yourself? Supposing we are in a nosedive, it’s the only sensible thing to do: secure your flask first, and then assist the other person with a taste.
Let me back up a moment, and ask the question of whether Christianity has anything to do with metaphysics? I, of course, believe it does, but this places me in an apparently small and shrinking minority.
But if Christianity is true, and the truth sets you free, surely this can’t be just a helpful tip, another piece of the puzzle, a "department" like any other, only revolving around the Great Unprovable? Rather, it must be the epistemological key to the whole existentialada, no?
Is it all the made up words?
Or, do reverence and irreverence just not go together? Besides, you’re not as funny as you think you are, Gagdad. Keep your day job. Or rather, beg them to give it back.
We have so many departments of learning, is it really possible that a single idea or principle or being could unify them all? For this is the promise of any metaphysic, and not just the Christian kind.
I know -- maybe I should leave readers in suspense, so they have to tune in tomorrow for the next installment.
Actually, Christianity is the key, the solution, to metaphysics, with no abstractions, and though the club advocating this view may be small, it is not exclusive, and fully welcomes new members.
ReplyDeletewhat do you mean "with no abstractions"?
DeleteWhile it is true that the answer is a concrete Being and not an abstraction, this Being certainly unifies a lot of abstractions, while ruling out others. Or, since our abstract thinking can be as deranged as our actions, I like the idea that salvation extends even to our intelligence.
ReplyDeleteI mean, I'm sure my brain worked better 30 years ago, but what an imbecile.
ReplyDelete30 years ago my brain was probably somewhat more attuned to abstractions, and my connection to the vertical was more tenuous than now; thankfully Julie's analogy from the other day about that connection to the vertical being a preventative rather than a pendulum swing applies; and I'd say my thoughts were rather more scrambled. About your brain working better 30 years ago, that I find difficult to believe. I'd say 30 years ago our brains were probably only hitting on 4 cylinders, rather than the Hemi powered 8 cylinders firing today.
ReplyDeleteWe have so many departments of learning, is it really possible that a single idea or principle or being could unify them all?
ReplyDeleteCoonversely, is it really possible that there is no single unifying principle or being? Call me crazy, but I really don't see how it could be so.
As far as brains, I'm pretty sure mine worked better roughly 13 years ago.
ReplyDeleteI'd like to do a Best Music I've Heard All Year, except I don't think any of it came from this year. I did go through a big Latin Boogaloo phase. I guess my favorite is Ray Barretto. If you don't know about the genre, it's a unique combination of Afro-Cuban and American soul music, birthed by a younger generation of Puerto Ricans in Spanish Harlem. As with rock music, the old folks didn't like it and thought it was vulgar and simplistic, compared to the tradition-bound rhythmic complexities of a Tito Puente.
ReplyDeletePossibly the most underrated soul singer ever, Ronnie Dyson.
ReplyDeletePower Pop lives. Here too.
ReplyDeleteLate era Allman Brothers, as good as early era.
ReplyDeleteThe New testament has all the answers to humanity's present day ills, but unfortunately our present day ills are deja vu Old testament Genesis 3 and more and it's difficult to see Islam's Adam making the same mistake again and taking his lead from Eve.
ReplyDeleteI hear why you recommend Barretto. Listened to a few cuts, and I'd add an album or two to my library.
ReplyDeleteVery catchy stuff. I told my guitar wielding son he should purloin the bass lines and write new songs around them.
ReplyDeleteSantana certainly borrowed from boogaloo. Okay, stole for all it was worth.
ReplyDeleteHow about some Hawaiian music? While stationed at Pearl Harbor in the early 80s, I caught the Peter Moon Band, whenever I could, and Gabby Pahinui also.
ReplyDeletePeter Moon cut/viddie (runs 2:45) : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gjWTUjIYRVw&t=5s
Gabby Pahinui cut/viddie (runs 5:37): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TlFOtAfczXM
I think the only Hawaiian music I have is by Marty Robbins, who sang everything from country to cowboy to rockabilly to teenage and adult pop to Hawaiian and Calypso. I also have some fun exotica that incorporates those elements, e.g., Les Baxter and Martin Denny.
ReplyDeleteI also have some Speedy West and Jimmy Bryant, who usually do lightning fast west coast countrified jazz, but would occasionally delve into Hawaiian. Like exotica it's somewhat campy, but I like it. Reminds me of SpongeBob.
ReplyDeleteThere's a wacky Hawaiian flavor in this Beach Boys track, especially after 2:15. That whole collection contains some of my favorite music. Insanely creative. Unfortunately, literally.
ReplyDelete"If you're dead, then never mind."
ReplyDeleteI'm not dead yet. It is somewhat uncomfortable saying that so close to Mr.Cleese though.
Speaking of camp, Cosmic Sounds circa 1967.
ReplyDelete"Maybe the posts are too long? I’m not aware of any other blogger who burdens the reader with such endless circumnavelgazing..." [begins puffing self up to show off] "...on a near daily basis." [Windiness escapes in a pitiful squeal]
ReplyDeleteOn the bright side, I've been working up to another run at metaphysics and the disreputable shtick of epistemology... slowly... might get one post launched before eve eve eve... but maybe naught. [Can't you feel the suspense building?]
Maybe one of these days you should do this as a post with the videos embedded. If it was front page, you'd probably get more comments, even if only "what the heck did I just hear?"
ReplyDeleteListening to the Beach Boys wacky Hawaiian track. I don't know what I expected, but there's just no possible way to expect that.
Not a complaint, just still trying to process; I suddenly sympathize with the RCA dog.
Brian Wilson... heard things, things no one else ever heard. The studio musicians, most of whom were well schooled, were in awe of him. He'd describe to them the sounds he heard, and they'd be able to execute them. The excellent documentary The Wrecking Crew delves into this.
ReplyDeleteWrecking Crew trailer.
ReplyDeleteJulie: check out this Smile Backing Vocals Montage for the weirdest harmonies ever.
ReplyDeleteHa-whyyy...eeee!'n sounds.
ReplyDeleteThat is really interesting. It's the like the vocal equivalent of a texture library. Fun!
ReplyDeleteThe Wrecking Crew documentary is really interesting. Had no idea so much commercial music relied on one group of musicians that way, but once you hear it it's obvious.
Yep, the Wrecking Crew were something else... the lady that played the bass, a lot of bands signature riffs are hers.
ReplyDeleteCarol Kaye. She's all over the Beach Boys.
ReplyDeleteShe was a jazz guitarist, and I believe she only picked up the bass to get more recording dates.
ReplyDelete"In 1963, when a bass player failed to show for a session at Capitol Records in Hollywood, she was asked to fill in on the instrument. She quickly discovered she preferred playing bass, and found it was a key component of a backing track and allowed her to play more inventively than the relatively simpler guitar parts she had been playing until then."
ReplyDeleteAmong the most important bassists of the '60s, along with James Jamerson at Motown. Both played on an insane number of hits and came up with any number of great bassline hooks. Standing in the Shadows of Motown is also well worth seeing, about the Motown backing musicians who got no credit at the time.
There are many of Jamerson's isolated basslines on youtube -- and he played with only one finger -- for example, What's Going On.
ReplyDeleteCheck out session guitarist Louis Shelton replicating his part for I Want You Back, one of the greatest soul singles of all time.
ReplyDeleteOne more: the Beach Boys getting downright funky.
ReplyDeleteI saw 35 comments and I got excited that the trolls were out in full force. But even better, it was Bob giving his year end love for music!
ReplyDeleteIt's funny sometimes listening to individual parts outside of the melody. You can tell that there's something missing, like a joke that isn't funny because you don't know the context, but if you do know the rest of the parts (or even just the primary melody) your brain can't help but fill in the missing pieces. I never notice this while rehearsing as a part of a group, but from the outside it becomes apparent.
ReplyDeleteRe. I Want You Back, listening to his music is always so bittersweet. What a talent, and what a voice! but his brokenness just breaks your heart, especially for his childhood.
ReplyDeleteSpeaking of which, lately I've been listening to Amy Winehouse, in particular, the posthumous collection Lioness. The most gifted vocalist I've heard since the days of Aretha / Etta / Mavis / Gladys / Timi / Dusty, et al.
ReplyDeleteSurfing around, I found this early interview of Winehouse at the age of 20. Remarkable how healthy she looks compared to the bedraggled skank of just seven years later.
ReplyDeleteShe was amazing. I never saw what she looked like before the drugs & lifestyle worked her over; lovely woman.
ReplyDeleteThe mystery of charisma.
ReplyDeleteOf course, listening to her lyrics, even at that age she was playing with fire. Dang, girl.
ReplyDeleteSpeaking of British girls with a penchant for adultery, Kate Walsh (not the famous one, the one you've never heard of) is still on my playlist. Lovely voice, and I think she did all her own work, but some of her songs just make you wonder how things went so wrong.
File under Songs that Could Never Be Written Today: I took you out of the ghetto, but I could not get that ghetto out of you.
ReplyDeleteUh oh, a hate song. How dare he submit her to his male gaze and then disapprove of her behavior!
ReplyDelete;-)
ReplyDelete