by israelirealities » Thu Nov 24, 2005 11:31 am
In the thread on CIA control of the art scene, I mentioned briefly the attitude of Judaism to art. Nobody seemed to have picked it up, but I still think it is worth a thought, in that context.<br>Judaism was mostly concerned with eradicating paganism, and so one of the first prohibitions was against creating the totems and idols and statues/masks. In order to make sure the habit is uprooted, the prohibition went deeper and farther than merely that. The concept of "God" was redefined as "one" and "inconceivable" and any attempt to limit God through capturing an image, sentiment, manifestation - is idolatry. This must have been terribly hard and also stifling in terms of creativity. However, the prohibition lasted and survived the flourishing of the arts in Europe. <br>I suspect that one the challenges posed by Christianity concerned this as well, and we see that Christianity is specifically visual and even physical. The cross, the statutes the physical ceremony of sacraments, are a compromise with the Jewish stricter rules. <br>The age of secular society is brief. PErhaps we are finding out that there is no such thing as "art per se". The drugs/psychadellic experimentation proves that paintings and statues are a "religious" activity, in terms of our brains or our psyche. Reading the articles by this Israeli Shanon (the psychologist who experimted with this mushroom), the spontaneous imagry of the unconscious reminds me of Egypt, or something indeed "alien" (why imagery of art exhibitions ? palaces ?). Perhaps the Jewish idea was to suppress or control this powerful contents and by forcing the "Logos" on them (words, texts) to bring in more "Ego" to the "Id/Libido" (sort of) or police those forces in our minds. <br>I think what we are seeing now is that any PTB who attempt at larger social control are interesting in taking over, controlling, the imagery elicited by the visual arts. Perhaps visual expression (as diffrentiated from music, for instance) is more directly related to sex/primal forces that can easily be manipulated by suggestion, hypnotism, drugs and eventually what they used to call "Satan" ? (forces that seek "evil" control, namely, exploitative control over people, or slavery). ANother association from Jewish "mind" is that of Egypt/Idolatry/Sorcery with SLAVERY. Maybe there is some part in the mind/brain that seeks to be totally "possessed", and is related to visual art. I am just throwing ideas...<br>BTW, satan in Jewish tradition is usually called "the other party" (in terms of another authority). It is not a fallen angel.<br>I am also thinking that visual art bypasses the verbal faculties and might activate pre-verbal/civilized parts in humans, while herded in groups. This sends me also to the claim by men that they are "visually" aroused (as opposed to women). <br>Just for general info, the original biblical prohibition is "do not make to yourself an idol (Zelem) or mask, for I am your God".<br>Lastly, prohibitting the use of visual symbology is also a sort of innoculation against political manipulations of sorts. If politicians and "rabbis" (clergy) cannot use symbols of any sort, they have to resort to words...this is quite limitting.<br>I'll try to find some links to more authoritative discussion on this, cause I am really no expert, to say the least, on either Judaism or Art. <br> <p></p><i></i>